SOME of the worst-affected areas for mobile phone signal in the county are to be given a £1m coverage boost.

North Yorkshire County Council has secured the cash from the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership’s Local Growth Fund.

Councillor Don Mackenzie said: “Improving mobile phone coverage is vital to the economic growth of the county. "Without this investment, the competitive edge of our businesses would be affected. Improved coverage will support business growth and tourism, it will help to remove social isolation and will help our young people to build futures within their communities.”

The council has recently commissioned an independent survey of the county to identify areas where there is no mobile phone coverage. The findings will be reported shortly, enabling the authority to identify “not spots” where it may be able to invest in new mobile infrastructure.

The County Council is working with Britain’s four major mobile phone operators – EE, Vodaphone, O2 and Three.

During the past three months, the county has seen improvements in coverage through a combination of new masts and upgrades to 4G in the following areas: Brotton, West Marton/Skipton, Boroughbridge, Easington, Thornton in Lonsdale, Wigglesworth, Appleton Wiske, Hanlith, Appleton le Street, East Ayton, Snainton, Great Ayton, Stokesley Road in Helmsley, Goathland, Hinderwell and Castleton.