Revised plans for the £1m revamp of Bedale Station have been announced.

The move comes after councillors were told the inclusion of a conference centre in the development would be too expensive.

Instead, Hambleton District Council plans to build a gallery and exhibition area.

"Creating a conference space is an expensive option if we want to do it right," said cabinet member for prosperity Councillor Ralph Andrew. "This is not an avenue we feel we can take.

"Establishing an exhibition area which can work alongside the businesses in the craft workshops is the ideal solution, and one which has been embraced by businesses which have shown an interest in taking workshop space.

"This is a very exciting scheme for Bedale and for the district of Hambleton.

"We will not only be creating new jobs, but improving transport links to the dales and giving new craft based businesses an ideal base from which to work."

The new plans will see the number of workshops for small businesses increased from eight to ten.

The scheme will also mean the re-opening of the station buildings, by the Wensleydale Railway, to house a caf and travellers' information point.

A new footbridge will also be created to link the station to the town centre.

The regional development agency Yorkshire Forward has already pledged £650,000 towards the scheme.

The rest of the money will come from the district council and North Yorkshire County Council.

Trains began re-using the platforms earlier this year. It was the first time in 50 years that they had stopped in Bedale.

Offices, the caf and travellers' information point will be built in Station House.

The four existing outbuildings will be split into ten workshops and the exhibition area.

Four of the workshops will have retail areas, with the exhibition space also available to the craft businesses.

The station and outbuildings have been used by the Kerfoot Group for many years. The firm is relocating to new premises early in the New Year.

It is hoped that work on converting the station and its outbuildings will begin soon after.