As many as 66 new jobs were created and another 35 safeguarded when opposition leader William Hague opened a new office complex in converted stables on a North Yorkshire country estate.

Yorkshire Forward is leading the rural area's diversification into the business market, with the opening of the offices at Aske Hall, near Richmond - home of the Marquess and Marchioness of Zetland and Lord and Lady Ronaldshay.

Aske Stables, opened this month took a year to redevelop from a disused, deteriorating state into a fully serviced, 21st century office development.

Yorkshire Forward, as part of its drive to regenerate rural areas, awarded the scheme a Redundant Building Grant of £75,000 towards the cost of providing the more than 20,000 square feet of prime office space, along with restoration of its 100-year-old stable courtyard which retains many original features.

Pam Warhurst, Yorkshire Forward board member with responsibility for rural interests said: "Yorkshire Forward's involvement in schemes like Aske Stables, as well as its partnership programmes for market towns, enables rural areas to attract business investment and establish themselves as enterprise hubs. This is a great example of an historical building being given an innovative new lease of life and at the same time benefiting the local community.

"Yorkshire Forward is driving a programme of rural regeneration in Yorkshire and Humber and with the additional funding recently awarded to us by the Government for Redundant Building Grants we are committed to supporting even more projects of this nature."

Roger Tempest, Chairman of Rural Solutions Limited, the organisation behind the Aske Stables redevelopment said: "Rural Solutions has been specialising in projects like Aske Stables since 1982. The redevelopment of historic buildings ensures that they can be maintained, transforming them into valuable assets.

"This, in turn, is of great economic and social benefit to rural areas. It is crucial that the countryside redefines itself so that its future can be prosperous and preserved for future generations. We are extremely pleased with the results of this redevelopment and look forward to working with Yorkshire Forward on future rural regeneration projects in the region."