ENVIRONMENTAL improvements to the River Swale are to be carried out this autumn after a rejuvenation scheme was allowed a five-month extension.

The Swale regeneration project, led by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, had been due to finish in June, but officials won an extension to the end of November because most of the practical work was held up by foot-and-mouth restrictions.

James Lamb, the park ranger at Reeth, said hardly any of the bank stabilisation and riverside woodland creation work planned for this year had gone ahead.

"Since the footpaths reopened we have started on the practical work, including improvements at Marske and working with the Ministry of Defence and Yorkshire wildlife trust further downstream," he told Swaledale parish forum on Wednesday.

"We had hoped earlier in the year to carry out work, with the Environment Agency, to improve access for anglers and remove gravel and debris to allow spawning fish to go upstream.

"Foot-and-mouth meant we haven't been able to get access to carry out that work, but we hope to do something before mid-October."

Work that had gone ahead included research into the effect of the moorland grip system of drainage, believed by many to be responsible for increased flooding in the dale.

Project workers also awaited the publication of a geomorphological survey carried out on the Swale by South-ampton University, which would help identify the sort of work to be done to solve erosion and other problems.

"We will also be working with the local business association to promote the area and the aims and achievements of the regeneration project through its website," said Mr Lamb.

The meeting also heard that no final agreement had been reached with a local landowner who is holding up the rebuilding of the Reeth swing bridge, swept away by floods a year ago.

Mr Lamb said talks continued, as did the search for funding after some millennium trust cash was lost because the project exceeded its deadline because of the delay