The honesty of motorists and a continued boost from market rents is ensuring a healthy financial state of affairs for Masham Parish Council.

After recently introducing honesty box parking in the Market Place, the parish council said it had been pleasantly surprised by the willingness of drivers to put cash into the money box.

The decision to try honesty box parking has developed into an enviable success, parish council chairman Councillior Andy Burrell said in his annual report.

"The honesty parking continues to provide a valuable souce of income, amounting to £7,216 for the past year," he said.

The biggest boost to the council's financial coffers still comes from market place rents, which contributed £14,512 for the same period.

Coun Burrell said a major step forward to Masham Parish Council's commitment of improvement had been the appointment of Alan Shinkfield as clerk and financial officer.

The chairman said Mr Shinkfield had brought much needed depth, experience and professionalism to the role.

Coun Burrell said the council had taken steps to make itself ever more accessible to local people, while the town had benefited from its ongoing support for the recently-established Mashamshire Community Office.

It has given the scheme a grant of £9,000 over the next three years to help the venture deliver a valuable range of services to Masham people.