THE Youth Hostel Association has unveiled plans to expand its accommodation network across the Yorkshire region.

Richmond and Grassington, at either end of the Yorkshire Dales, have been identified as possible sites for new hostels.

And others could follow at Goathland, Staithes, Harrogate, Ripon and Holmfirth under a new partnership plan known as YHA Enterprise.

The situation at Aysgarth, where the hostel is under threat of closure unless money for a £500,000 upgrade can be found, remains the same.

The Aysgarth hostel was one of ten earmarked for closure in the wake of the financial devastation caused by the foot-and-mouth crisis.

However the YHA is now aiming to increase the number of its overnight guests in the region by some 50pc.

As well as identifying Richmond and Grassington as potential new sites, the charity is launching the YHA Enterprise scheme to create new bunkhouses, camping barns and guesthouses, as well as backpacker hostels aimed at young international travellers.

It will involve joint ventures with private, public and voluntary sector partners that would own and, in many cases, run the new accommodation.

The new centres would all display the famous YHA logo.