A PROJECT which breathed new life into redundant stables on a North Yorkshire estate has scooped an award.

The conversion at Aske Hall, near Richmond, was named as the winner of the Yorkshire Award by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors at a ceremony in Leeds.

The listed building was derelict until a joint redevelopment spearheaded by with Rural Solutions gave it a new lease of life.

Now, a dozen firms are based there in small business units, employing as many as 70 people.

"It was a real thrill to find out we had won,'' said spokeswoman Mhairi Mercer.

"It was a big project, but we have been fortunate in that everything went so well - culminating in this award."