A TOTAL of £138m of investment has been ploughed into Yorkshire and Humber from the European Union's Objective 2 Programme - and further help is on its way.

More than 550 projects throughout the region have benefited from Objective 2.

Next in line is an ambitious programme called Navigating Nidderdale whereby sustainable tourism will be the target for a Harrogate-led project which will include work to extend and promote the attractions of Masham.

The European Union's Objective 2 Programme monitoring committee for Yorkshire and Humber met yesterday.

The committee, a wide-ranging group drawn from public, private and voluntary sectors across the region, chose the historic setting of Fountains Hall, near Ripon, to look ahead to the region's future economic and social progress.

Speaking after the meeting, the chairwoman, Felicity Everiss, regional director for the Government Office for Yorkshire and Humber, said:

"The PMC were pleased to see such good progress. As more and more funding starts to come through, it is becoming increasingly obvious that Objective 2 is really starting to deliver its promised investment to the region and is increasingly making a significant contribution to its economic and social life."

Before beginning their discussions, the members took time to look at an Objective 2-funded project operating nearby which is set to have a wide-ranging local impact.

Tourism officer, Keir Brown, told members that Navigating Nidderdale, centred on Pateley Bridge and Masham, would boost the local economy by developing a range of sustainable tourism products such as themed short-break holidays.

Together with help towards the "greening" of local businesses, it aims to bring new economic life into local communities while protecting the surrounding, internationally important landscape.

Administered by Harrogate Borough Council on behalf of local business people, community groups, and others, the project will eventually become a fully-fledged community-owned sustainable tourism business.