A PROJECT has been launched to help local food and drink producers to expand their markets and show their products across Europe.

Called Urbal (urban-rural), it gives producers the chance to travel to regional food festivals within the partner countries, which include the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Germany and Sweden.

Councillors from North Yorkshire have called the project a wonderful opportunity to promote the county and its unique products in front of a multinational audience.

So far, well-known names such as Lewis & Cooper of Northallerton and Hambleton Ales have become involved.

The scheme is being funded by £320,000 from the European Union, which will be used to pay for the project, plus a variety of promotional activities.

Urbal was officially launch in Zwolle, in the Netherlands, on Thursday of last week.

In North Yorkshire, the scheme is being led by the county council, which has invited a delegation of 15, representing nine local food and drink companies, to a large country fair in Heino, also in the Netherlands, tomorrow and Sunday.

The council is already planning to invite its international partners to the Skipton local produce festival on October 9 and 10.

County Councillor Carl Les, executive member for economic development, said: "This is a wonderful opportunity, not only for international co-operation, but also to promote North Yorkshire products in a wider market."

The producers involved are Shepherd's Purse Cheese, Thirsk; Yoadwath Mill Trout Farm, Kirkbymoorside; Elizabeth Smedley (Yorks), Ripon; Elizabeth Botham and Sons, Whitby; Swaledale Cheese Company, Richmond; Wensleydale Dairy Products, Hawes; and Raydale Preserves, Askrigg.

Nick Stafford, owner of Hambleton Ales, thanked the county council for its efforts in setting up the scheme. "From a rural brewery in North Yorkshire to a country fair in Holland is an ideal opportunity for Hambleton Ales to participate with our Dutch partners," he said.

"We very much appreciate North Yorkshire County Council's efforts to make this opportunity available to us."