ONE of North Yorkshire's leading tourist attractions has launched an appeal to raise nearly £500,000 to carry out extensions and renovation work.

Curator Martin Watts said Ryedale Folk Museum, which was named the National Museum of the Year four years ago, planned to spend the money on development of a workshop for volunteers and staff to do practical work, and for the setting up of two study areas to extend the museum's educational work, to provide accommodation for reserve collections, and to build a gallery for exhibitions.

However, one of the main projects will be the restoration and redisplay of the Harome Manor House, which is sited in the museum park.

"These are exciting times for the museum and by attracting more visitors we shall be helping to boost the economy of the North Yorkshire Moors," said Mr Watts