THIRSK hostel, which provides accommodation for the homeless, is to be refurbished at a cost of £175,000.

Hambleton District Council cabinet recommended approval on Tuesday of a grant of £79,200 towards the work after hearing a report prepared by Eric Kendall, head of environmental services.

The hostel is in Westgate and has been the subject of a leasing arrangement between the authority and Broadacres Housing Association for some years. It has provided temporary accommodation for homeless people and their families.

It is intended to refurbish the hostel to create five self-contained flats for single homeless or adult couples and remove all communal cooking and bathing areas to meet new requirements and standards. This will lead to the loss of one room.

The scheme will meet the drive by the Government for local authorities not to accommodate homeless families in either bed and breakfast or hostels, but rather in self-contained accommodation.