A scheme aiming to find work for young people living in rural areas is to be launched next week.

The Wheels 2 Work initiative, which will cover Hambleton and Richmondshire, is looking to provide access to work for young people by allowing them to lease mopeds in order to travel.

The project will target people aged 16 to 25 who are unable to find work because they lack transport.

They will have the use of 12 mopeds as part of the one-year pilot scheme, which it is hoped will lead to more youngsters staying in rural areas.

The scheme is the latest idea from the Hambleton and Richmondshire Rural Transport Partnership, which was set up 18 months ago to give country residents the same access to services as those living in towns.

Rural transport coordinator, Andrew Johnston, said: "The project will give youngsters the confidence to be able to look for jobs outside their immediate neighbourhood.

"And it will bolster the sustainability of villages by reducing the pressure on young people to move away in order to find jobs.

"Mobility opens up employment and training opportunities regardless of where you live."

The project has received financial backing from Hambleton and Richmondshire district councils, the Countryside Agency and the Learning and Skills Councils in North Yorkshire.

It will run alongside a Wheels 4 All project to begin in the summer, providing community transport groups with access to minibuses.

Potential users of the mopeds will be referred to the scheme by agencies such as the Employment Service. The youngsters will also be able to use the bikes for "reasonable social purposes".

The rural transport partnership also gives grants to schemes set up by other local transport groups and a £10,000 fund has been earmarked for this year.

Thousands of pounds have already been awarded to local organisations, including Easingwold Town Council and the Bedale Volunteer Bureau.

For further information, contact the partnership on (01609) 761206