AYSGARTH Youth Hostel may receive a stay of execution if local authorities can help attract grant aid for the building.

The hostel was threatened with closure by the Youth Hostels Association, which suffered losses owing to last year's foot-and-mouth restrictions.

However, a meeting of representatives of the YHA, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and Richmondshire district and North Yorkshire county councils on Monday, threw the hostel a possible lifeline.

Coun John Blackie, a member of all three authorities, said the YHA was "receptive" to some of the ideas put forward by the other organisations.

"I am quite hopeful now that there may well be a stay of execution while we examine whether we can assist the YHA in putting their hands on some grant money that might be available to assist in the refurbishment of Aysgarth hostel," he said.

The work was likely to cost £300,000 and funding it could involve selling off the warden's house at the hostel.

Representatives from the councils and the national park authority were due to meet YHA chief executive Roger Clarke at the re-opening of the refurbished Grinton hostel, in Swaledale, today. "I hope to have some optimistic news to report after that meeting," said Coun Blackie.