A Town hall is about to become a library and community resource centre.

Plans have been put forward by North Yorkshire County Council to move the library from the rear of Helmsley Town Hall, in the Market Place, to the former tourist information centre at the entrance of the building.

John Buffoni, chairman of Helmsley Town Council and of the management trustees of the town hall, said the scheme, which goes before the North York Moors National Park Authority's planning committee for a decision, would include a meeting room and community room, together with a reading area, Internet facilities and information desk.

The details of the scheme had still to be agreed with the trustees, he said, but if approval was given by all parties, he said he was hopeful the work would go ahead this summer.

"It will be a great asset to Helmsley. It has taken a lot of hard work to reach this point," he said.

Coun Buffoni said the town hall, which dates back more than a century, was well used and a valuable facility in Helmsley.