MILLIONS of pounds are to be pumped into regeneration projects in market towns - including Guisborough - as the region takes a major share of a £100m national handout.

Each of the towns is to receive up to £1m, and will now carry out a 'health check' to examine local social, economic and environmental issues.

Once specific problems that need to be addressed are identified they will be directly targeted by the government cash.

The County Durham towns of Barnard Castle, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Crook and Stanhope have been chosen. In North Yorkshire, Whitby and Thirsk are among those to get cash, along with Guisborough.

The package was announced on Tuesday by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and is the second part of a £100m regeneration programme launched in the wake of last November's Rural White Paper.

The idea is to help country towns by creating job opportunities, restoring high streets, improving public transport and encouraging people and businesses to play a part in building better communities.

The initiative has already been piloted in Guisborough and residents are delighted the town has been chosen. A steering group has been set up and consultation meetings held to generate ideas to help the town.

Guisborough MP Ashok Kumar said he was 'delighted' at the town's acceptance onto the scheme.

Stephen Whitehead, joint chairman of the steering group, said it was 'marvellous recognition' of all the good work being done in the town