THE creator of a labyrinth near the riverside in Norton has helped bring people of all ages together.

Peter Clark made the labyrinth, which is similar to a maze, with the help of his wife, Janice, six months ago.

Since then it has been maintained and developed by Peter and other volunteers using sawdust.

He said: “The public response has been fascinating and never negative. Social interaction with teenagers, young parents and the third-agers has been rich in areas of land art, history, botany and spiritually."

Peter said labyrinths had been created throughout history.

“The difference between mazes and labyrinths is that labyrinths have a single continuous path which leads to the centre, and as long as you keep going forward, you will get there eventually. Mazes have multiple paths which branch off and will not necessarily lead to the centre.

“In a maze, you can get lost, but in a labyrinth, you can’t. Mazes arguably derived from labyrinths, slowly evolving into more elaborate forms featuring multiple, branching paths, and then to having dead ends.”

Discussions have since taken place with Norton Town Council with the view of establishing a more permanent labyrinth.

Following a meeting with the countryside and parks manager from Scarborough Borough Council it was agreed that the labyrinth is left as it is with the grass allowed to grow around the sawdust. A decision will be made at the end of the year as to how best to proceed.

Deputy mayor Cllr Antony Croser said: “I think this is the right way to go for the labyrinth.

"It looks good in its natural state and is obviously a feature which is attracting people of all ages. It certainly could be something that is there for years to come.”