A NEW abattoir has won unanimous approval from the Yorkshire Dales national park planning committee.

Mr Martin McIntyre and his wife, Lindsey, now hope to complete building work at East Borwins Farm, Bainbridge, over the summer months.

The couple believe it will offer Yorkshire dales farmers the chance to take charge of their own destiny.

"Having a local abattoir run by a local family will allow the development of a livestock producer group which could use the services of the new abattoir to link with its own meat marketing company based on local branding, using the advantages of the high environmental value of the dales area and the supreme quality of the livestock produced there," said Mr McIntyre.

The couple have operated a small, home consumption abattoir for five years but hit on expansion after attending a meeting held by the Northern Dales Meat Initiative and Richmondshire District Council.

The North of England has lost 60pc of its abattoirs as smaller ones have closed, but BSE has increased demand for local produce with traceability and welfare assurances.

The new abattoir will handle up to 120 lambs, 12 cattle or 20 pigs an hour. It will not sell red meat, but will slaughter and cut to specification.

Both Hawes and Craven cattle marts believe it will boost local branded products such as Yorkshire lamb and Wensleydale meat.

Mr Maurice Hall, manager of Hawes mart, gave his "110pc support" to the project, which would end excessive travelling of livestock to distant abattoirs.

"It will allow dales farmers to add value to their product by linking their wholesome, healthy system of farming to the wonderful landscapes of the Dales national park," he said.

He hoped maximum grant support would now be made available for the project.