COBBLES that have been a unique feature of a Hambleton village for over 100-years are being restored thanks to council cash.

Volunteers have begun the painstaking job of re-laying damaged parts of the cobbles around the war memorial area in Helperby with the help of a £4,000 grant from Hambleton District Council’s Making a Difference Fund.

And the work has also seen them uncover a long forgotten 15th century well.

Cllr Nigel Denison, Chairman Brafferton and Helperby Parish Council, said: “The deteriorating condition of the cobbles in Helperby, which pre-date 1900, has been a concern for residents for years.

"They are an integral part of our Conservation Area but in their current state they present a poor example of what a Conservation Area should be

As a result of the grant, around 5,000 square metres of cobbles was transferred to the parish council, allowing it to implement an ongoing cobbles restoration programme over the coming years.

“It has taken a while but the community now has ownership of the cobbles and we can put in place a robust plan for the restoration of all the cobbles in the public areas of the village,” added Cllr Denison.

“It will take several years to complete but we hope to restore our unique streetscape for future generations and ensure our village remains a special and attractive place to live.”

Contributions for the scheme around the war memorial have also come from Brafferton and Helperby Parish Council and North Yorkshire County Council.