A NEW environmental project is being launched to reduce the carbon footprint of North Yorkshire’s county town.

The Northallerton and Villages in Transition Initiative will look at practical ideas to enable the community to collectively work towards a greener environment.

The group is looking to join the national Transition Towns movement which started in Kinsale in Ireland and Totnes in Devon and has since spread to York, Kirkbymoorside and many more towns, villages and communities.

Spearheaded by the Northallerton and Villages Community Forum, the project will be launched with a screening of the film Age of Stupid - described as "an eye-opening look at individual contributions to global warming.

There will also be a presentation from John Cossham of the York in Transition group.

The chair of the forum. Sally Anderson, said: "We want to keep our community alive in a world that is running out of oil and where energy is at a premium.

"We want to live in a place where people can learn from each other, share essential skills, grow and sell their own food, produce much less carbon, re-use or recycle unwanted goods and buy local goods in local shops."

The launch event takes place on October 9 in Northallerton’s town hall from 7pm.

To join the initiative contact Peter Cole on 01609-767212 or peter.cole@hambleton.gov.uk