HUNDREDS of children across North Yorkshire will have access to out-of-school activities, thanks to the biggest allocation yet from the new opportunities fund.

National Lottery good cause grants totalling nearly £2.4m were announced for Yorkshire and the Humber yesterday, with more than £215,000 going to projects in Hambleton, Richmondshire and Ripon.

A successful consortium bid by Thirsk and Sowerby community care association sees £85,919 being channelled into special needs holiday care and the creation of more than 200 out-of-school and holiday places.

Mrs Julie Broughton, project manager and co-ordinator, said part of the money would pay for an adapted bus to collect special needs children from a wide rural area for holiday activities and return them home afterwards. The vehicle would also be used to take activities to youngsters in remote areas around Thirsk, Northallerton and Richmond.

"It will make a huge difference to the children because there hasn't been any real local provision for them in holiday time until now," said Mrs Broughton. It will also help their parents in seeking work opportunities and taking up training."

She said the scheme could cater for up to ten children, aged from five, some with severe learning problems, and offered one-to-one activities with care workers and volunteers.

The remainder of the community care association grant will create 14 before-school, 112 after-school and 82 holiday places by creating two new clubs and extending an existing club.

Ripon council for voluntary service receives £81,685 to create a total of 158 out-of-school and 42 holiday places by forming three new clubs and expanding an existing one. The places will take youngsters aged four to 11 and serve 13 schools.

The Wensleydale school, Leyburn, gets £47,794 to provide new and existing out-of-school-hours and summer school classes to encourage and motivate students