A TRUST set up following the sale of Wrea Head College at Scarborough 25 years ago is to be used to help ren- ovate outdoor education centres.

The trust, set up by North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC), will help Bewerley Park, Great Fryupdale, East Barnby and Humphrey Head, which are all run by the authority.

Education director Cynthia Welbourn said: "The centres are in urgent need of improvement."

The work is expected to cost £1.9m in total, she added.

The centres are used by a large number of schools and businesses, but Miss Welbourn said there had been a trend to using other centres because of the poor quality and sub-standard facilities at those run by NYCC.

She added: "The improvement work will give the centres the opportunity to market services to a wider community, including leadership training, conference facilities and activity and adventure courses."