SCORES of North Yorkshire villages, struggling to raise cash to renovate community halls, have been dealt a blow.

A budget of just £70,000 has been earmarked by the county council to provide grant aid for this year, but the amount being sought is £319,439, said Gordon Gresty, the authority's director of business and community services.

As a result, application bids are over-subscribed by more than 400 per cent, he said.

"Some very worthy applications cannot be supported purely due to budget constraints," he said.

An officers group, chaired by the Yorkshire Rural Community Council (YRCC) has prioritised all applications on the waiting list. The only one to benefit in Ryedale in the latest round of successful grant bids is Staxton village hall, which is to get £17,000. It is one of only five to receive funding so far allocated this year.

Now, only £4,500 remains for allocation until April next year, said Mr Gresty.

Ian Strong, director of the YRCC, said "A number of villages have benefited in the past from grants for the village and community halls and it has made a tremendous difference to their quality of life.

"In our exprience, once a hall is renovated and brought up to modern standards its usage increases, often quite significantly."