AN HISTORIC hydro-electric plant in the Yorkshire Dales is to spark into life again to supply power to the National Grid.

The pioneering project at Linton Falls, Grassington, will see the crumbling 100-year-old red-bricked power house refurbished and generate green energy using new turbines.

It could pave the way for up to 50 other old mills - mostly in the north of the Yorkshire Dales National Park - to similarly return to work.

The park has commissioned a survey to assess the potential for saving them as important historic buildings which can also help combat climate change.

Built in 1909, Linton is a scheduled monument and is a reminder of the days when oil lamps slowly gave way to light bulbs in rural areas.

The site owners - J N Bentley, civil engineers of Skipton - have the support of the national park and English Heritage to install two Archimedean screws which will be turned by the tumbling waters of the River Wharfe.

The plant will generate about 510,000kw hours of electricity a year and save about 216 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

Subject to final planning approvals, it could be switched on next summer.

Maddy Jago, chairman of the Yorkshire and Humber Historic Environment Forum, said: "We are extremely enthusiastic about this scheme. Not only will it help secure the future of an important historic building, but it will also contribute to reducing the nation's reliance on fossil fuel generation.

"Climate change is a major challenge for everyone and that includes the heritage sector. We need to re-learn the old wisdom of self-sufficiency and sustainability, which includes imaginatively reusing our historic buildings and finding local solutions to global problems."

Roger Harrison-Topham, National Park heritage champion, said: "Linton falls brought electric light to Grassington and now it is set to resume service. This is a terrific project and excellent way of protecting one of the Yorkshire Dales unsung, but very significant, historic buildings."

The national park has already funded two other schemes in listed watermills: at Yore Mill, Aysgarth, and Gayle Mill, Hawes.

Martin Bentley, director at J N Bentley, said: "The project will reinstate the area's sustainable power generation capability and at the same time restore a derelict building to its former glory."

Linton Falls was originally built by the Grassington Electricity Supply Company on the site of a former mill to supply power to local houses. It was expanded, but fell into disuse about 1948 when the National Grid was extended to this part of the Dales.