THE future of a community education service that catered for 3,500 students last year has been thrown into doubt.

Ripon College announced on Wednesday that it would withdraw from the local management and delivery of the service at the end of September.

The decision will affect a large number of day and evening classes run by Ripon Community Education, as well as youth work in the area. About 100 jobs, mainly part-time lecturers, could also be affected.

The service has been provided for many years in partnership with North Yorkshire County Council with the help of some external funding.

The decision is thought to be due to changes in the planning and funding of adult learning and youth work introduced this year by the authority.

Council officers and members have been in discussion with college staff and governors to find a solution.

But Councillor John Fort, executive member for lifelong learning, said "In Ripon, they relied heavily on external funding, much of which is ending very soon.

"There was a very unrealistic expectation that the county council would simply absorb all the costs of this activity into core budgets."

He added that the council was working to secure community education provision in the Ripon area. One possibility is that Harrogate College could take over.

No one at Ripon College could be contacted for comment.