AFTER five years of hard work, a dream is finally coming true for a young Thirsk businessman.

Mark Hebden started up an animal visitor centre five seasons ago as a diversification to Monk Park Farm, Balk.

He was given permission to site a caravan on the farm until it could be established that the business was a viable proposition.

In the first season, 5,000 people visited the centre, but then the foot-and-mouth epidemic hit the area and all the animals had to be culled. Determined not to give in, Mr Hebden set about re-stocking and building up the business, which has now exceeded all his expectations.

Last year, he submitted a plan to build a bungalow on the site, but this was turned down by Hambleton District Council because he could not prove at that point that the business could be sustained long-term.

But in his new application, Mr Hebden has provided visitor figures which show that last season 22,000 people visited the attraction and this year the figure had reached 35,400.

An agent speaking on his behalf said: "Mr Hebden is now confident enough to extend the business even further, fully realising his dream."

Recommending approval, planning officers said the business had now recovered from the foot-and-mouth epidemic and was shown to be increasingly profitable this season.

"There is good reason to assume that the business is financially sound and that it will continue to develop with a clear prospect of remaining a viable business," said the report.

The application for a dwelling with agricultural residency conditions was approved.