Richmond'S historic obel-isk may have to wait a little longer for full restoration in the wake of a U-turn on funding.

The district authority's resources committee seemed to surprise itself last week when it agreed spend £80,000 on vital repairs.

But it was only once the vote had been taken that the implications began to sink in.

Officers pointed out, if Richmondshire District Council still wanted to balance its books, it would now have to raise council tax by another three per cent or drop other projects from its spending plans for the coming year.

Community lighting, new tourist signs and new playgrounds would therefore have been facing the axe.

As a result, there was some furious back-pedalling once the resources committee broke up, with political groups jockeying for position to present their own alternatives on Tuesday night.

Councillor John Harris spearheaded the call for immediate action on the obelisk a week ago - but even he conceded the need for compromise.

He suggested, should the authority fail to win a Lottery grant to cover the cost, the district council contributed a maximum of £50,000 to ensure urgent repair work would go ahead as soon as possible.

However, Councillor John Blackie won the day, a majority vote supporting a grant of £30,000 towards the obelisk - although the council committed itself to another look at the budgets if there was no Lottery grant forthcoming.

Chief executive, Harry Tabiner, said: "It is mandatory work and the council has made it a number one priority.

"The project stands a good chance of getting funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund so why drain other resources if that is the case?

"However, if we don't get the funding, we have undertaken to look at it again."