ANYONE asking for money from Europe had better be prepared for some paperwork... all 378 pages of it.

Mr Ian Crowther, chief executive of Business Solutions Bedale, found himself surrounded by even more paper than usual when he downloaded the contents of a government website on Objective 2 funding, which replaces the old Objective 5b system.

The application form and all supporting documentation for Objective 2 funding has been posted on the website by the regional Government Office in Leeds, although a limited number of hard copies is available.

Mr Crowther, who runs the Bedale-based enterprise agency for Hambleton and Richmondshire, stayed at work late on Tuesday to download some of the information but managed only about a third.

He was back in the office early on Wednesday to continue the task and the computer was still downloading documents when he left for a meeting at Richmondshire District Council on a proposed bid for Objective 2 funding to encourage companies in the district to become more innovative.

He said: "Anyone considering an Objective 2 bid will need the vast majority of these documents and it came to a total of 378 pages."

The district council is working with Business Solutions Bedale to prepare an Objective 2 bid which, if successful, will build on a conference on innovative businesses being held at Middleham key centre on April 4.

The whole of Richmondshire, which hopes to become a pioneering district in innovative businesses, has been granted Objective 2 status.

European funding totalling £748m, spread over six years, is being made available to various areas of Britain