MORE youngsters in rural North Yorkshire are being helped to find jobs and training thanks to an innovative transport scheme.

The Wheels 2 Work project, based in Northallerton, lends out mopeds to young people to help them get into work and further education. The scheme has already helped 25 youngsters since it started last May and demand for the machines is rising.

The group hopes to buy more mopeds to keep up. Scheme co-ordinator Andrew Johnston said: "The scheme is proving to be very popular and we have mopeds all over Hambleton and Richmondshire. They are an ideal solution to the transport problems young people encounter in our region where public transport can be very limited."

The group plans to expand its moped fleet from 12 models to between 15 and 18, subject to funding.

The Wheels 2 Work project is part of the Hambleton and Richmondshire Rural Transport Partnership, which this week celebrated its second birthday. Based in South Parade in Northallerton, it is funded by the Countryside Agency, Hambleton and Richmondshire district councils and the Learning and Skills Council of North Yorkshire.

Other schemes run by the partnership include a bus service from Wensleydale and Swaledale to Darlington that serves 120 passengers a week.

Coun John Blackie, leader of Richmondshire District Council, praised the service for throwing a lifeline to students in the dales. "Following the re-allocation by central government of funds that used to provide lodging allowances, many young students from deeply rural areas like the Upper Dales living miles and miles away from colleges were very seriously disadvantaged," he said.

"Some have had to give up any hope of gaining access to further education, thus losing possibly their one and only opportunity for career advancement. The new bus services from the dales to Darlington College have given back that opportunity for a college education and I am delighted to see so many dales youngsters are taking advantage of it."

The partnership also manages the Wheels 4 All scheme, which gives community groups access to minibuses and has given out 43 grants ranging from £100 to £1,000 under its Get Up and Go scheme, which helps groups with transport problems.

For further details of the rural transport partnership's services, call 01609 761206