SENIOR staff members of a bank which closed its branch in a village two years ago have handed the building's keys to new owners.

A community resource centre will replace the Barclays branch in Reeth, North Yorkshire, and although it will not include banking facilities, residents of Swaledale and neighbouring Arkengarthdale will be able to draw on new facilities.

Once conversion work is completed, towards the end of the year, Richmondshire District Council staff will run an inquiries desk where residents will also be able to pay their council tax.

It will incorporate a tourist information desk, plus offices for the police and the Upper Swaledale and Arkengarthdale Business Association, the Two Dales Partnership and Swaledale Festival.

An information technology suite will provide the town's residents with access to computers, a youth club is planned and an orchard is to be regenerated as a community area.

Three top-floor flats will be opened to address the need for affordable homes.

Martin Mosley, Barclay's consumer and community affairs director, said: "If I'm frank, I'd have to admit there was a very different atmosphere last time I was in Reeth as people were rightly anxious about what losing the bank would mean.

"It would seem things have actually turned out quite well as this new resource centre will be of real value to the area."

District councillor Richard Good chairs Hudson House Ltd - the trust which got the project off the ground.

Although Barclays' offer to sell the building to the community at a knock-down price was the catalyst, he said the costs could not have been met without funding from the Countryside Agency, the European Regional Development Fund and Yorkshire Forward.