A SERIES of concerts is taking place to help promote businesses in the Richmond area.

Richmondshire Subscription Concerts, which will be held monthly until March next year, is using grants from the district council to help raise the profile of many of the town's businesses.

A concert featuring the Belcea String Quartet held on Saturday at the Zetland Christian Centre launched the initiative, with local businesses displaying their promotional literature in the foyer.

"Many local businesses have sponsored the subscription concerts over the years and now, with the devastating after-effects of foot-and-mouth, we wanted to help them in return," said Doug Waugh, chairman of Richmondshire Subscriptions Concerts

"The concert was an opportunity for businesses to advertise their services and products."

Speaking after the evening, chairman of the Richmond Tourism and Business Association (RTBA) Dr Mike Nichols said: "There are many diverse, quality businesses in the region and people seemed genuinely interested in hearing about them."

The RTBA also used the occasion to promote its new business directory, which is currently being complied using a grant from Yorkshire Forward.

Once complete, the directory will be distributed to 10,000 homes.