MARKETING gurus working on a new image for Yorkshire have been urged not to forget the rural areas.

Richmondshire District Council was given a 30-minute analysis of Yorkshire Forward's new branding initiatives at a meeting this week.

And, after the regional development's agency's finance director, Jeff Bearcroft, had focused on the area's strengths and weaknesses, the authority was given a preview of a six-month advertising campaign, selling the region as vibrant and "alive with opportunity".

However, although there were wry smiles at the demise of the days of flat caps and whippets, some councillors were worried Yorkshire's attractions as a tourism destination were not being promoted as strongly as they would like.

Leader, Councillor John Blackie, was among them.

"I was hoping Yorkshire Forward may have been inclusive in its approach. After all, the rural areas are very much part of North Yorkshire and we need a share of the limelight,'' he said