Councillors have backed plans to use developers' funding to make £1.8m of improvements to leisure and sports facilities.

Hambleton District Council's cabinet voted to go ahead with schemes to extend the gyms at Hambleton Leisure Centre, Northallerton and Stokesley Leisure Centre and build a new gym at Thirsk Swimming Pool.

The projects will use £574,000 secured through Section 106 agreements between developers and the council. A further £288,000 of Section 106 money will be put towards a £1m project for a news sports hall in Easingwold.

The council will also make a one-off grant of £332,000.