THE River Bain Hydro Project, in Wensleydale, has cleared its final regulatory hurdle.

The Environment Agency has approved its abstraction licence to generate electricity.

Yvonne Peacock, Hydro director, said: "Piece by piece, were putting the jigsaw together and the dream of a hydro is becoming a reality.

"All we need now is a final push from investors to raise the necessary finance and well be able to give the go-ahead."

Visitors to the recent open day in Bainbridge saw where the hydro would be installed and Steve Welsh, H2oPE managing director, was on hand to answer questions.

He said: "People were really interested in, and very supportive of, the scheme.

"We can only hope that everyone whos expressed an interest and downloaded a prospectus will now decide to invest.

"We'd like this to be the first of many community-hydros to be installed within the Yorkshire Dales National Park."

The share offer closes on Wednesday at 5pm. The prospectus can be downloaded at h2ope.co.uk. Shares cost £1 each with a minimum shareholding of £250.

The plan is to install a 45kW plant that will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 40 houses and save about 80 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year 3,000 tonnes over the plants expected lifetime of 40 years.

Any surplus money from the plant will be given to the local Raydale Project to fund further community and environmental project.

Further information about the project can be found at h2ope.co.uk or from Yvonne Peacock on 01969-650409.