A SWALEDALE company could soon have a worldwide impact on the environment.

Ecoscope Applied Ecologists of Muker has won a DTI-sponsored smart award for a study into the feasibility of creating a "virtual eco-consultant". The award was secured with assistance from Mr Roger Benson, Business Link North Yorkshire innovation and technology adviser.

The company, which also has offices in Hong Kong and Cambridge, has 16 full-time consultants and 21 associates advising international clients on conservation and environmental issues, including habitat creation and management, conservation legislation, impact assessment and mineral and waste management.

Now it plans to give customers the option of accessing information on-line on the internet.

Dr David Hill, chief executive, said: "If someone has a site they want to develop, they will log on to our web site, key in questions - on soil or rainfall for instance - and be provided with a set of solutions to their particular query along with advice on how to obtain further information."

Dr Hill, who founded the company in 1992, said it would give people greater access to a full range of practical advice and information on ecological matters.

"Students and children will also be able to gain entry," he said. "As far as we are aware there is nothing like this on the internet at the moment.

Dr Hill thanked Mr Benson, has helped 70 companies win £2.95m in smart awards in the last 3 years. "I'm not sure if we would have managed it without him," he said

Ecoscope's clients include the Environment Agency, MAFF, English Nature, the Hong Kong government, plannign authorities and developers.

Business Link North Yorkshire is available on 01904 686000.