VISITORS to a national park can now learn more about the history of well-known landmarks through newly installed talking posts.

Four posts have been sited along the path between the Sutton Bank National Park Visitor Centre and the White Horse, near Kilburn, North Yorkshire, each of them offering expert knowledge of the area at the push of a button.

Similar posts have previously been installed in Dalby Forest, where they proved a hit with visitors.

Commentary at the first post by geology expert Alan Staniforth describes how Sutton Bank was formed.

The second post is close to the Yorkshire Gliding Club, and bears the voice of the chief flying instructor, David Hayes.

At the third post, local archaeologist Steve Sherlock explains about the largest hill fort that has been discovered in the north of England at Roulston Scar, and, at the final one, farmer Fred Banks describes the history of the White Horse landmark, and how it has been managed down the years.

Senior ranger Colin Dilcock said: "They are so easy to use and don't rely on people being able to read an information board.

"You simply press a button and the talking post highlights a place of interest.

"These new posts will help develop visitors' knowledge of the landscape, geology and places of interest.

"It's actually difficult to find ways of providing more information in the open countryside but the talking posts, which can withstand the elements thrown at them on this exposed site and are easy to spot without spoiling the environment, seem to provide one great solution."