THOUSANDS of maps showing the changing face of Britain’s biggest county have been given a new lease of life.

The huge collection of historic maps of North Yorkshire has been painstakingly catalogued and repaired by staff and volunteer helpers at the County Record Office in Northallerton.

For the past four years a team of volunteers from the local branch of the University of the Third Age, has dedicated one day a week to help sort out the massive collection.

Their work has involved the removal of duplicates, and the creation of a database to promote ease of access.

The remaining collection of Ordnance Survey maps has been repaired and microfilmed, and will be permanently preserved. Altogether more than 10,000 maps have been identified and where necessary repaired.

County Councillor Chris Metcalfe said: "We are tremendously grateful to these volunteers who have given so freely of their time.

"Their work has opened up this valuable collection of historic maps for the benefit of communities and researchers throughout North Yorkshire."

He added: "This is work that we could never have achieved without the help of these volunteers.

"Storage space is at a premium and many maps were damaged and in need of conservation."

The maps, dating from the 1890s, chart changes in landscape, boundaries, communications and buildings for the whole of North Yorkshire, and provide evidence for the growth of towns and settlements such as Catterick Garrison.

The new database of maps listed by date and place is accessible in the Record Office’s public searchroom where originals and microfilmed copies are available to view.