RARE bats have threatened the building of new sports facilities in a North Yorkshire town.

Teachers at The Wensleydale School, in Leyburn, had hoped work on an all-weather pitch would be nearing completion.

However, delays in building an extended learning centre at the school have also held up work on the floodlit facility.

Work on the learning centre failed to start when evidence was found that a rare species of bat was present at the school site. Experts were concerned the building work would disturb the bats.

Headteacher David Eaton said: "The bats were identified at the back end of last year. They found some droppings, but when they came back in May there weren't any more, so they said we could start (building).

"Everything has run late - I was hoping the building programme would have started in the autumn of last year and that fell through. They didn't start until August 13 this year."

It is not known what type of bat was found at the school.

Officers and members of Richmondshire District Council have expressed concern about the delay.

Last year, the authority pledged £150,000 towards the project to secure community use for the pitch. The cash was put forward on condition that progress was made within one year.

Councillors will discuss at a meeting on Tuesday whether to continue supporting the scheme.

Mr Eaton has reassured members that the project is still on track, with building work due to start next spring.

The reassurance has led to Colin Dales, district council assistant director, recommending that members do not withdraw funding.

He said: "There is no doubt that this project has suffered significant delays and this has led to frustrations within the council.

"However, further assurances as to timescales have been received and the principle of supporting all-weather sports provision in the lower dale remains.

"I am therefore proposing to continue to support the project."

The support should be dependent on receipt of suitable tenders for the work, Mr Dales said.

An all-weather pitch was proposed after the school failed to get funding for a sports hall