A NATIONAL park has secured £2.3m of funding to support projects and businesses in the area.

The North York Moors National Park is making the EU funding available through the North York Moors, Coast and Hills Leader programme and is urging organisations to apply for a share.

The grant has been awarded to help projects that will make a positive and direct contribution to the local economy.

Amy Thomas, the programme’s manager, said: “It’s great that we have this funding available. The only stipulations are that projects must be connected to either farming and forestry productivity, rural tourism or micro and small business development.”

The programme is a partnership of private, public and voluntary sector interests working to support the rural area and the local economy.

It is looking to invest in activities, projects, enterprises and facilities which will deliver economic benefits to the area.

For details, visit moorscoastandhills.org.uk, contact a.thomas@northyorkmoors.org.uk or call 01439-772700.