CRIME and the fear of it is a major worry for rural shops and post offices, says the annual report of the Yorkshire Rural Community Council.

The council's chief executive Ian Strong said: "This is evident in rural post offices with a number of high profile and violent thefts leading to resignations of postmasters and mistresses in Ryedale.

"Village shops, post offices and pubs are focus point for rural communities by providing meeting places and promoting social interaction".

He said the council was working with the Countryside Agency, the Village Retail Services Association and the Independent Grocers Retail Association to help village shops and retail outlets to adapt to changing market forces.

"Our work has taken us to numerous communities providing information, advice and help, individually and collectively," he said.

He added that there had been a decline in the number of rural pubs, but several had benefited from the Countryside Agency's retail consultants and community service grants.

"Successful pubs tend to be those which have a diversity of services and those which are meeting community and customer needs," said Mr Strong. "An emphasis on providing high quality food has moved many pubs away from meeting the needs of local communities, particularly in the remote parts of North Yorkshire."

Internet access was available in some pubs, while at Walton near Wetherby four members of the local community had saved their local pub by buying it.

The council's rural transport partnership had resulted in a number of projects being introduced or expanded across the county. He highlighted a new community transport scheme set up with a people carrier in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale.

Information and communication technology was playing an increasing part in North Yorkshire's rural life, added Mr Strong. Many schools were attracting funding to develop computer centres which served both pupils and the local community

He said parish plans were proving vital in identifying community safety and policing issues in rural areas. "As these plans progress to the action planning stage, more involvement between communities and community safety partnerships will develop," said Mr Strong.

The community council's annual meeting is to be held at Shipton-by-Beningborough community centre on November 20 at 2pm. The guest speaker will be Mike Keeble, who will talk about the Cornerstones Project.