A LOCAL enterprise scheme aimed at boosting deprived rural communities is to be extended into North Yorkshire.

Dales Action for Local Enterprise (DALE) was set up in 1999 to help unemployed or under-employed young people, living in the Yorkshire Dales to set up businesses.

The project is based on a Prince's Trust model to provide outreach and support for 18 to 30-year-olds. It provides grant and loan support for business start-ups, and has helped 23 businesses get off the ground and created 26 jobs.

Leading staff members were invited to meet Prince Charles at his Gloucestershire home, Highgrove, to talk about DALE's success.

A DALE spokesman said: "It is now being rolled out to the whole of Yorkshire and Humberside."

Meanwhile, Prince Charles has agreed to support an £11m restoration of Harrogate Royal Hall.

He has agreed to become patron of the Royal Hall Restoration Trustand will also be donating an undisclosed amount of cash from The Prince of Wales's charitable trust. The restoration trust aims to raise £1 million towards the restoration costs.

The 100-year-old theatre is also set to get a cash boost from regional development agency Yorkshire Forward and almost £7 million from the National Heritage Lottery Fund.

Updated: 10:10 Thursday, April 03, 2003