A RURAL community group may abandon its attempt to open a £540,000 training centre in the Yorkshire Dales.

The Rejuvenate Wensleydale group planned to turn a former garage in Aysgarth, near Leyburn, into a base for courses aimed at local people and visitors.

The not-for-profit company had secured half the funding for the centre.

But bosses have been told that an attempt for match funding from the European regional development fund has been rejected.

Company spokesman Ian Mellish said yesterday the scheme was now likely to be abandoned.

He said: "We have exhausted both our time and possible sites. The decision has not been made completely, but it is looking that way (that the scheme will not go ahead).

"The garage site was ideal with no external problems, ie we did not have to lease it.

"If we cannot get the money, it is difficult to see how we can do anything else.

"We have come to the end of the road."

It was hoped the centre could provide courses on building and agricultural skills.

Two or three jobs would have been created initially, with more in the future.

A planning application had been submitted to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority for the centre.

But the application has been withdrawn and the garage is back on the market.

The scheme had the support of Aysgarth Parish Council. The company was also given support and advice from Richmondshire District Council.

Mr Mellish said Rejuvenate Wensleydale might now be "put on the shelf" until other opportunities arose.

The company grew from a self-help group for farmers and businesses affected by the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak.

Original plans were to create a training and visitor centre at Hawes auction mart, but the plans were abandoned when the mart ran into financial difficulties.

Mr Mellish said several directors left the company, although others had applied to join if the Aysgarth scheme went ahead.