PEOPLE living in the Osmotherley area are being urged to act quickly if they want to be considered for 12 new homes being built in the village.

It is part of a programme to ensure villages remain affordable places to live.

Broadacres Housing Association, in partnership with Hambleton District Council and North Yorkshire Moors National Park Authority, is close to completing work on the properties in Clack Lane.

Only people who have a local connection to Osmotherley, Ellerbeck and Thimbleby for the past five years or more, or who are employed - or about to take up employment - in the area, will be considered for the homes.

The development, known as Westfields, comprises of a mix of two-bedroom apartments, two-bedroom houses and three-bedroom houses.

Nine of the properties are being offered for affordable rent and three are being offered for low cost home ownership.

There has already been a great deal of interest in the properties, but any local people who meet the criteria and would like to be considered for one of the rental properties must complete an application form.

This can be done by contacting Broadacres on 01609-767900.

People who would like to buy one of the properties via shared ownership should contact Fiona Coleman at Broadacres on 01609-767985 by Friday, February 8.

People interested in finding out more about the Rural Housing Enabler Programme can contact Amanda Madden on 01609-767048.