A PROJECT to raise awareness of events in the North York Moors has received a £300,000 lottery grant.

Heritage Connections - New Audiences is designed to give people who could not normally visit the park a chance to explore the area.

A similar project, called Reaching Out Next Steps, ran for three years, but the £298,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund will now allow it a five-year extension.

Among the events planned are special roadshows, walks led by geology experts, and wildlife-watching events.

Youngsters will also be able to learn about moorland safety with studies on the impact of moorland fires and the Countryside Code. Two outreach workers will be employed to implement the project, which is aimed mainly at people in Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland.

A spokesperson for the North York Moors National Park Authority said: "This remarkable heritage asset is for everyone to experience and enjoy. Indeed, when the North York Moors was being considered for national park status, the fact that the area is close to large urban populations, particularly Teesside, was a significant point in its favour.

"However, at the moment, the national park is underused by some communities, in particular by inner-city and urban fringe communities in the Tees Valley, which bounds the northern edge of the park.

"The Heritage Connections project establishes long-term links and provides the necessary support and activities, where requested or required by the target communities.

"By working closely with community leaders and local authority champions, on their own territory, the intention is to build stronger links between these communities and the heritage asset on their doorstep."

Fiona Spiers, Heritage Lottery Fund regional manager for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "We are delighted to award this grant. The North York Moors National Park is a remarkable heritage asset and our grant will ensure that everyone from the surrounding towns can experience and enjoy the park to its full advantage."