PROPERTIES which have stood empty for a long time are being brought back into use in the Harrogate district to help provide affordable housing.

The area, which includes Ripon, Masham, Borougbridge, Pateley Bridge and Knaresborough as well as Harrogate, has 850 long-term empty homes.

Government grants are now available to owners of properties that have been empty for at least six months. A condition is that owners must enter a lease with a housing association.

Funding of up to £24,000 a unit is available, dependent on the length of lease.

Five schemes in the district have provided 12 units of affordable housing, and two more are under way.

In Ripon, two properties in North Street have provided four new flats. This follows last year's successful upgrading of two derelict shops and two houses in North Street into two renovated shops and four affordable houses.

In Boroughbridge, an empty listed building has been turned into a tourist information and council office with a flat on the first floor. Owners of the flat could have let it many times over, such was the interest.

Are you the

oldest boy or girl?

AINDERBY Steeple CE School is trying to trace its oldest surviving former pupil.

The school, which dates back to Victorian times, is hoping to celebrate the opening of a new classroom this summer with a ceremony involving the youngest and oldest pupils to have attended the school.

The school was originally built opposite the church in Ainderby Steeple, before moving to its current home in Morton on Swale.

Anyone who thinks they may be the oldest surviving pupil is asked to contact the school on 01609 773519.