THE green, green grass of home is to take on a whole new meaning for residents in a North Yorkshire village.

Residents of Dishforth, near Ripon, have successfully campaigned to have an area of grassland given village green status by North Yorkshire County Council.

The campaign was led by Dishforth Parish Council.

Councillor David Wells, parish chairman said the land had been widely regarded as parish property, but there had been no paperwork to go with it.

The land involved is an area known as The Green, 30 yards by 15 yards, behind Christ Church and off Main Street.

Part of the land is planted with trees and shrubs, as well as being home to a small recycling centre.

A spokesman for the county council's legal department said there was no known owner of the land and its title was not registered at the Land Registry.

Coun Cliff Wilson, who backed the scheme at a recent meeting and represents Dishforth on the county council, said he fully supported the idea and was sure the community would continue to enhance the area.