the owners of a theme park have applied for permission to create accommodation for Spanish and Polish workers.

Lightwater Valley Theme Park, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, has been forced to spend £40,000 bussing workers from Darlington 33 miles away, because it cannot find staff locally.

Now, the company is asking for permission to create a site for 30 caravans to house foreign students wanting to work while they learn English.

The workers will be offered three or six-month contracts.

In a letter to Harrogate Borough Council planning officers, the company says it wants to create the caravan park at a disused coach park.

Foreign labour will be recruited via an agency.

The letter adds: "The agency would interview potential candidates, carry out checks with police and referees and ensure the issue of relevant work permits.

"This will not affect the company employing staff locally, but there are just not enough people in the job market to satisfy requirements. "

It said that despite spending thousands of pounds on agency staff, the company could still not satisfy its demand.

The company's letter adds: "The lack of staff is damaging to the company and its reputation and there is no other option than to go down the route of providing accommodation."

Lightwater Valley points out that many local businesses are suffering similar staff shortages

North Stainley Parish Council is taking a neutral stance on the application.

However, it has asked what off-duty facilities will be available on site, amid concerns that the influx of workers could cause problems in nearby North Stainley.

The village, only a short distance from the theme park, only has a shop, public house and garage, and the nearest shopping centre and health facilities are in Ripon.

Planning officer Mike Warden said that, if permission was granted, the company would need to negotiate improved public transport or provide staff transport to and from Ripon.

He said up to 90 people could occupy the caravans.

Mr Warden said the alternative to on-site accommodation would be seasonal accommodation, such as lodgings in local towns, and provision of transport to work.

He said there was a serious lack of facilities available should a large number of caravans be installed on the site, with only the small village of North Stainley within walking distance.

North Stainley Parish Council has also asked whether or not a condition could be imposed preventing conversion of the site into a commercial caravan park at a later date.

Members of a Ripon area planning committee of Harrogate Borough Council will debate the issue tomorrow.

The theme park was established by millionaire Robert Staveley, of North Stainley.

It developed from a pick-your-own strawberry venture and was eventually sold to Queensborough Holdings for £5.8m in 1997.