AMBITIOUS plans to provide special housing for older and disabled people alongside major changes in the kind of help available are going out to the public for consultation across North Yorkshire.

After a major review of health and social care, the county council has developed a new strategy which aims to help people who need more support to live in extra care housing - and uses new technology and early intervention to help other people to stay in their own homes.

The authority wants to have extra care housing in every town in the county which will be at the centre of the community, backed up by supported living and other assistance to keep people more independent and healthy.

Councillor Clare Wood told members of the authority’s executive committee: "It is ambitious. We want to make the service bigger and better so people in North Yorkshire can remain independent, healthier and live longer lives in their thriving towns and villages.”

The consultation starts on August 18 for 12 weeks, for more information go to www.northyorks.gov.uk