AN organisation which charts the history of a seaside town through exhibitions of hundreds of old photographs is looking to expand.

The Whitby Archives group has been given a year to produce a business and funding plan, explaining how it would buy and run the town's Grape Lane Community Centre.

Council chiefs and members of the archives group met recently to discuss the way ahead for the project, which could cost as much as £600,000.

In a joint statement from Scarborough Borough Council and the archives group, council chief executive, John Trebble, said: "The meeting recognised that there is a great deal of work to be done in raising significant funds for the building to remain in public use.

"No positive sources of funding have been identified, but a number of avenues are being explored by Whitby Archives.

"It was agreed that a further meeting should be held in about three months, by which time it was expected that the archives would be in a position to proceed with an application to an outside body for funding.

"The meeting was a positive one, with both sides aware of the challenges that are ahead and the timescale that has to be met if the archives is to succeed in its wish."