CIVIC leaders in Richmondshire could launch a major bid for financial support to ensure the future prosperity of the district's market towns.

Councillors are being recommended to give their full support to an application to the Countryside Agency, which launched a market towns initiative in June this year.

The programme will provide support to 18 towns, each for a four-year period, and members of the district council's economic, cultural and leisure committee are being asked to consider a number of candidates to put forward.

Council officers see Richmond as a strong contender, although bids could also be made on behalf of Leyburn, Hawes and Reeth.

Economic development officer Geoff Herbert said: "It is extremely unlikely that more than one town from any district will be selected, and indeed it is by no means certain that even one will be."

Mr Herbert said councillors must decide whether to put forward just one town, or several, in Richmondshire.

He said: "To identify a priority, consideration should be had to a number of factors, including the one where the funding can be most effective and where the highest eligibility criteria can be met.

"In Richmondshire, this would logically be Richmond. The work of the Richmond Partnership and the Richmond town centre forum, and the potential for further investment must make Richmond a strong contender."