A Dales village has been awarded Conservation Area status, despite resisting the designation.

Muker residents made it clear they did not welcome the idea of more red tape and officialdom. The parish council insisted the Swaledale community would prefer to be left to run its own affairs.

However, Government guidelines oblige the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority to seek new communities worthy of special protection, which could then qualify for grants to help with conservation.

Chief executive, David Butterworth, told a meeting of the authority on Tuesday that some of the antagonism between the sides had been defused during recent meetings.

"We had a useful, open, direct and honest meeting, and we agreed to disagree, but there was a greater understanding of both our positions," he said.

However, Swaledale member James Kendall was among those who still opposed the move.

"It goes totally against the wishes of the village. We are supposed to be working in partnership with people," said Mr Kendall.