A MEDIEVAL village is celebrating the completion of its first car park. It will be officially opened on May 11.

Ever since the advent of the car, motorists visiting Thornton-le-Street, near Thirsk, have had to leave their cars on the streets and verges.

But following a fundraising campaign, the community now has its own car park and is about to add a cycle track to its facilities.

The car park, which accomodates eight vehicles, has been built in an unused part of the churchyard between the twelfth century church of St Leonard and the village hall.

Church warden Duncan Harvey, who is also chairman of the village hall committee, said: "We want to raise money to improve the village hall but the church and the village are of great historical significance and get a lot of visitors so they needed a place to park.

"The village hall is also very busy and the church is well supported so a lot of people will benefit from the project."

The project has cost £5,000 to complete with much of the fundraising done by residents.

Other donations came from the Thirsk Market Town Initiative; Yorventure, which is backed by waste management company Yorwaste; the county council; the Jack Brunton Trust; Thirsk Rotary Club and the York Diocese.