A MAJOR appeal has been launched to help transform the lives of people with learning difficulties in North Yorkshire - and boost the local economy.

Chopsticks, the pioneering charity based in Northallerton, is hoping to raise £850,000 to buy new premises on the outskirts of the town, from which it would be able to double its activities.

Chopsticks provides work and training to 30 people. It chops, bags, bales and delivers to retailers at least five tonnes of scrap timber every week.

It has boosted production by investing in more sophisticated machinery and also restores and sells wooden pallets, recycles nails for scrap metal and provides a low-cost gardening service for elderly and disabled people in the area.

Services are provided under community care agreements with North Yorkshire's social services department.

Work placements are also offered to local unemployed people under the Government's New Deal Scheme. Chopsticks chairman Keith Helsby said: "Our members are providing a valuable service. Demand for our firewood is so great that, with bigger premises, we could substantially increase our output, benefiting the community and the environment.".

Contact Chopsticks on (01609) 761661 to make a donation, sponsor part of the new building or an item of machinery, or to organise fundraising events .