VILLAGES in the North York Moors National Park could soon see an end to overhead electricity cables.

Electricity company CE Electric has been allocated £5.5m to spend on putting cables underground.

Sarah Housden, senior area planning officer for the park, said the money would be split between seven protected areas in the region, including the national park.

She said: "CE Electric considers that the best value for money will be to underground low voltage lines - 11,000KV and under."

A total of 44 villages have been assessed and among those highlighted for action are Aislaby, Gillamoor, Hutton Buscel, Lockton and Sneaton.

Mrs Housden said priority would be given where wires and poles had an adverse impact in conservation areas.

A similar scheme is also under way in the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.