HELICOPTERS are to be drafted in to drop stones to repair footpaths in the Yorkshire Dales in time for the new tourist season.

A total of 420 tonnes of stone flags and aggregate is due to be airlifted in to three areas of the national park in the coming week.

Work had been due to start this week but the helicopter which was to carry out the task was recalled to service in Scotland.

The will be used to resurface routes on the Pennine way across Great Shunner Fell, north of Hawes, and at Buckden Pike and Horton-in-Ribblesdale in the south of the park.

The work has been funded by Yorkshire Forward, the Countryside Agency, the National Trust and the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.

Mr Alan Hulme, a regional manager with the national park authority, said: "These three projects were held over from last year when our rights of way maintenance programme was put on hold following the onset of foot-and-mouth disease.

"In one week, we will be able to lift all the materials needed to pave or resurface more than two kilometres of remote footpaths and bridleways.

"These works will contribute to getting the dales ready for the new season, when we hope walkers, cyclists and horse riders will return and enjoy the very best of the British countryside."

Helicopters are used to take stones to remote areas because overland vehicles could damage the routes the authority set out to maintain.