A PLEA for more affordable rural housing has been made to the head of the Countryside Agency.

The invitation to chief executive, Richard Wakeford, came from Councillor Yvonne Peacock and Councillor Richard Dunn who attended the Rural Housing Signposts conference in London.

Coun Peacock, chairman of Richmondshire District Council scrutiny committee, said Mr Wakeford was keen to visit and hoped this could be arranged as soon as possible.

She had raised the subject of national park planning policy at the conference, which was also attended by Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael, in the light of the controversial refusal of a barn conversion at Cams House, near Hawes, for a local family.

Coun Dunn, chairman of Richmondshire community committee, discussed the importance of affordable rural housing with Mr Wakeford during the event, hosted by the Local Government Association.

Coun Peacock said it had was "an extremely interesting and useful day".