COMMUNITY leaders have confirmed Reeth's new community office will not be up and running by the end of the year.

It had been hoped the former Barclays Bank would re-open as Swaledale's community office before this year ended.

It now seems more likely, however, that it will be January before the building changes hands.

"I am a little disappointed we have not been able to get things off the ground before the turn of the year," said Richard Good, who chairs the trust chosen to lead the project.

"However, when you remember that since last January we have managed to find most of the funding, employ architects to come up with blueprints for the new facilities and get through the planning process, then I suppose we can say we have done quite well."

Hudson House - as the former bank will be known - will include a small number of low-cost properties for people in the area who may otherwise struggle to climb the first rung of the property ladder.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is committed to relocating from its centre in Reeth, while Richmondshire District Council will also be staffing the building, offering the Swaledale community a facility for paying council tax and rent bills without having to travel to Richmond.

North Yorkshire Police have also confirmed, they will be taking an office, while it is hoped a computer suite, linked to the Internet, as well as a youth club are other projects which will find a home in the building.

"We are still waiting to hear if we have qualified for grants from Yorkshire Forward, although we have reason to be reasonably confident," said Mr Good.

"Once the capital costs are covered, the running of the building should pretty much take care of itself, with those who take office space paying the staff and contributing towards the cost."