A PROJECT which could see the River Esk generate enough electricity to serve 600 homes in the North York Moors National Park has received a major boost.

Yorkshire Forward, the Government's regional development agency, has awarded the scheme £521,000.

Six sites have been earmarked as potential locations for a small-scale hydro power scheme - five on The Esk and another at Beck Hole, near Goathland.

Peter Jones, renewable energy officer for the project and the park, said: "These unobtrusive systems would harness the power to generate electricity for 600 homes."

He added that he was working with Botton Village and the Upper Esk Energy Group to help it become a community interest company.

"This will enable it to feed back any income generated by the scheme into the local community in the form of grants for further sustainable projects", said Mr Jones.

Meanwhile, a group at Appleton le Moors and Spaunton which has been investigating the feasibility of wind power has suffered a setback.

"A survey identified that wind turbines on three sites would produce enough energy to offset the communities' use and could also generate some additional income", said Mr Jones.

But a survey carried out among residents in the two picturesque moorland villages to ascertain if they wanted to pursue the idea resulted in a thumbs down.

Mr Jones said: "About two thirds - 64 per cent - were against wind power on this scale and the group is now looking at developing installations in people's homes, such as biomass heating and solar panels".

At Botton, the Camphill Village Trust community near Danby, biomass is the buzz word, said Mr Jones. "The village has installed a number of large biomass heaters, which burn wood to supply heating and hot water to several houses and buildings, including the bakery.

"It also has a ground source heating system which obtains heat for the village shop from a number of bore holes under the local car park, and has put solar hot water panels on various buildings".

Mr Jones added: "The whole initiative of the renewable energy project is very much community-driven. My job is to be on hand to provide advice and support".