THE cost of restoring one of the few remaining parts of Harrogate's spa heritage has risen by £150,000, leaving councillors to stump up an extra £58,000 - or lose National Lottery money.

The Turkish Baths, part of the Royal Baths complex, which was the hub of treatments in Harrogate's Edwardian and Victorian spa heyday, are popular with residents and visitors.

The borough council agreed to bring them up to 21st Century standards in a two-phase project as part of an overall revamp of the Royal Baths, which has brought bars and a new tourist information centre.

An expansion phase at the Turkish Baths, bringing a new entrance and reception area, catering area, new treatment areas and a spa pool opened last March with work on restoration of the original complex set to start later this year.

But a conservation plan, drawn up at the insistence of the Heritage Lottery Fund, has shown extra work is needed. While this will enhance the overall project, it means a price rise of £150,000 to £575,000. And although much of the increase will be grant-aided - the Lottery Fund will pay £431,250 - councillors will have to find more from their already stretched resources.

The cabinet will look at the issues on Wednesday, but head of sport and leisure Andrew McCormick said that failure to come up with the extra cash would mean loss of the Lottery grant and have a knock-on effect on the work already done.