A COMMUNITY'S efforts to take its destiny into its own hands take another vital step this month.

The Catterick area's Community Works project has confirmed it has located a temporary office and expects to have a headquarters operating by the end of the month.

The ground floor of the old County Hotel on the High Street in Catterick Village will be a base for volunteer-run projects which aim to act as a catalyst for a better public transport network, to help to generate new youth schemes and services for the elderly and even cut crime.

The office will also sell products made by people who live in 20 parishes along the A1 corridor.

Community Works chairman Melva Steckles said: "The shop will be open at certain times during the week, depending on the volunteers' available time.

"We hope it will be a place for the community to call in and get involved."

One project pioneered by the group is a community car scheme, which will run under the umbrella of the North Yorkshire Rural Transport Partnership.

One of only six pilot schemes in the UK, it will give signed-up members access to a pool of cars based in villages around the area, with flexible rates allowing vehicles to be hired for hours or even a few days.

Community Works has also won a £5,000 grant to cover the cost of a feasibility study into how an 18-acre field on the banks of the River Swale can be better used.

At the moment, the land is leased from the Leeds Angling Club by Richmondshire District Council.

Mrs Steckles said: "We want to get specialist consultants to come in and show us how we could develop the field as an amenity for lots of groups, including families, dog walkers, children and the elderly."

A partnership with Darlington College at Catterick could also see short courses being taught at village halls.

More information about the group and its objectives is available by telephoning (01748) 835510.