NORTH Yorkshire visitors are being encouraged to discover some of the region's architectural gems as part of a special tourism initiative.

Yorkshire Tourist Board has joined forces with the Churches Regional Commission to produce leaflets promoting many of the county's churches.

The initiative was dreamed up in a bid to raise the profile of North Yorkshire's places of worship, many of which have unique individual features.

At Whitwell-on-the-Hill Church, passed by millions of visitors each year on the A64 between York and Malton, a lottery grant was awarded to provide a new notice board.

Parishioner Peter Milner said: "The idea is to bring more people in, whether they go to church on a regular basis or not.

"We are trying to get people to look at these architectural gems, from all different ages."

Mr Milner said many visitors parked outside village churches to set off for walks in the countryside.

"We want them to come in and wonder at the buildings," he said.

Updated: 10:34 Tuesday, April 22, 2003