SOARING house prices, village post office closures and increases in traffic are all affecting the quality of life for residents of the North York Moors.

But tourism is increasing, the quality of rivers has improved and conditions are better for walkers and horse riders.

The report on the state of the moors, by the National Park Authority, has been produced by staff at its Helmsley headquarters.

It has three main functions; to monitor trends, identify key issues and measure whether the overall quality of life in the park is improving.

It reveals that average house prices last year reached a record high of £265,000 - well above the county average of £144,000.

Traffic has increased ten per cent in the past seven years and much of the influx is thought to be due to tourists.

There has also been a sharp increase in the number of people using the Moors Bus service - up from 13,600 in 1998 to 28,235 in 2001.

But while the number of passengers has doubled over four years, the figure still remains a small percentage of the overall number of visitors.

Half the villages have no winter bus service on weekdays, and 79 per cent have no service on Sundays.

A bleak picture is painted of community facilities, with 17 fewer villages having a post office than when the last review was carried out in 1995.

"They are important as a village focal point and particularly vital to the elderly, disabled and those without a car," said the report.

Tourist numbers have risen by six per cent, with 2.1 million visitor nights being spent in the park's hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfast accommodation and self-catering establishments such as caravan parks.

There are 4,424 people directly and indirectly employed in tourism in the park, with visitor spending of £165m.

"Tourism is the largest employer and income generator in the park, although it is subject to seasonal working patterns and part-time work," said the report.

"The industry has considerable influence, directly and indirectly, over the economic well-being of the park and its communities."