BIDS for £125m of funding for a series of road improvements in North Yorkshire have been rejected by regional transport chiefs.

The decision by the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Assembly’s transport board has been met with dismay by the county council.

North Yorkshire submitted bids for a £75m package for the Harrogate and Knaresborough area and a £50m package for the Malton and Norton area.

Although the packages did not specify individual projects they did identify issues such as congestion, ease of access, and road safety, where the authority believed action would bring major benefits to the local communities.

"The bids from transport authorities across the region far outstripped the funding available," said admitted County Councillor Clare Wood yesterday, "Nevertheless, we are very disappointed that both our bids failed to be approved."

She said the authority would continue to lobby for funding through the transport board and would also look at the possibility of securing funding from alternative sources.