A RUNDOWN shop in Bedale is to be restored to its former glory in a £370,000 scheme.

The building, in the Market Place, will be given a new lease of life when it becomes a one-stop- shop for learning.

It will house Business Support and Development - part of York and North Yorks Business Link network - and other local training providers.

The project is seen as providing a major learning and skills facility for the market town and will be part-funded through Hambleton District Council's Economic Development Fund.

It is also hoped to get a top-up of £250,000 from the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward and confirmation of that grant is expected by March.

The grade II-listed building at 17 Market Place has been empty for many years and fell into disrepair after a hardware store moved out.

Once converted and brought into use it is hoped it will inspire other investment into the centre of Bedale.

Nine full-time jobs will be moved there from another smaller base in the town and another two created.

Hambleton's cabinet member for prosperity, Ralph Andrew, said: "Providing a single shop window to all training providers will improve consumer choice and ensure better co-ordination between individual providers.

"And it sees us restoring a rundown historic building rather than building afresh."