A TOURIST service that was under threat of closure has reopened for the summer season.

Great Ayton Tourist Information office was opened in 1989 by Hambleton District Council.

The service ran until 2005, when budget cuts meant the council could no longer fund the service.

Great Ayton Parish Council stepped in to fund it in 2006.

That allowed the creation of Great Ayton Tourist Information (Gati) to try to save the service.

Funding has now been secured from several sources, including North Yorkshire County Council, to help to run the service this year.

The parish council has also agreed, along with Hambleton district, to give support.

A Gati spokesman said: "By April, sufficient funding was in place to open for this current season.

"We are pleased we can continue to provide local people and visitors to the area with information which helps them to make the most of our beautiful area of North Yorkshire.

"However, the fight for funding continues. Gati must become self-funding and its management committee and the volunteers continue to investigate ways to achieve this aim.

"We try to go the extra mile to help our customers make the most of their visit."

The Great Ayton service, in the car park, in High Green, opened for the season this month.

The office is open from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday, and 1pm to 4pm on Sunday. It can be called on 01642-722835.