MOTOR sports enthusiasts have welcomed a Government U-turn which means their events can go ahead in the countryside this year.

Organisers of the Scott Trial, held each autumn in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, were among clubs which put events on hold following new regulations from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Changes under the Common Agricultural Policy review effectively banned landowners from claiming payments under the new Single Farm Scheme if they allowed motor sports on agricultural land.

Pressure from the organisers of thousands of events across Britain led to a revision of the regulations last Friday.

Lord Bach, Sustainable Farming and Food Minister, announced that farmers could allow motors sports on their land for up to 28 days a year without losing payments.

Katie Sunter, from Richmond Motor Club, which organises the Scott Trial, said: "This is really good news. There is no reason why the Scott Trial cannot now go ahead, as long as steps are taken to notify the landowners of this development."

The event in October has raised thousands of pounds for charity since it began in 1914.

The Country Land and Business Association, which backed the motor sports enthusiasts' call for greater clarification of the new rules, welcomed the announcement.

Dorothy Fairburn, CLA Yorkshire director, said: "Defra is to be congratulated on making a swift and common sense decision."

She warned farmers to remember that cross compliance conditions, particularly soil management, applied to fields hosting motor sports.

Planning regulations affecting the use of farmland would further limit to 14 the number of days motor sports could take place, she added.

A spokesman for the Auto Cycle Union said the news had saved up to 22,000 licensed trials and 7,000 off-road events this year, although five championships had already been called off.

The Motor Sport Association, the sporting arm of the RAC, has more than 3,000 events planned this year.

Accolades for

sister museums

TWO sister museums are celebrating after receiving accolades in a national awards scheme.

The National Railway Museum at York was honoured for its successful campaign to save the legendary loco the Flying Scotsman for the nation.

Locomotion, its six-month-old offshoot museum at Shildon, was recognised for its "true excellence", taking the permanent exhibition award at the same ceremony, the Museums and Heritage Show, at London's Caf Royal.

Locomotion has also been shortlisted for the Gulbenkian Award. The winner will be announced on Thursday.