THE challenges faced by the county's rural economy will be in the spotlight next week.

Senior members of the county council will meet the Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, David Lidington at Leeming next Tuesday.

The councillors, members of the county council's executive, will be discussing with the MP about how it could be made easier to deliver services to a large rural county like North Yorkshire.

Council leader John Weighell said: "It is important for people living in rural areas to realise what services are available to them as well as who provides them.

"There's a lot of help and advice on offer but we need to ensure that it is all delivered in a joined-up way.

"I very much welcome the opportunity to discuss with Mr Lidington how those in Westminster might be able to help achieve this."

The executive members will also brief the him on the council's input into the Government-backed national debate on GM crops.