The Duke of York has expressed sympathy for the people of North Yorkshire who suffered during a disastrous nine months.

He said he felt for those affected by the county's flooding last November; those who had suffered in the Great Heck rail disaster; and people hit by the foot and mouth epidemic.

Prince Andrew was officially launching a new community charity for North Yorkshire at a reception at Hazlewood Castle near Tadcaster.

He gave the royal seal of approval to the York and North Yorkshire Community Foundation which has been set up to channel local donations to local causes.

The Duke said there had been a number of disasters in this part of the country in the past nine months and the community foundation might encourage people to think there was a future and their problems were not insurmountable.

"Thankfully there are organisations ready to stand up for them and I wish them every success.

"There are a great many small organisations and groups needing small amounts of money to get them going or make them self-sustaining.

"The York and North Yorkshire Community Foundation is an important addition to the community sector in this part of the world and I shall be keeping a close eye on how it progresses over the years."

North Yorkshire's chief constable David Kenworthy, who is chairman of the foundation's trustees, said last week he returned from Bosnia where he was visiting British police officers working out there. He was surprised at the wanton destruction and complete eradication of the quality of life.

He was pleased to return to England, but found a countryside devoid of animals and ravaged by foot and mouth disease, with years of deprivation ahead for some. And it was not long ago that York and parts of North Yorkshire were under water.

"There are groups trying to improve their lives, and that's where the foundation comes in," he said.

The foundation would seek out donations of money, set up funds and then locate the worthy causes which would receive help, advice and cash.

It would be on the principle of 'local giving for lasting value' and the foundation would not only advise people on where to invest there donation, but would tell them what had been done with it.

North Yorkshire County Council leader David Ashton said that after its disastrous winter, there was scope in the county for an independent foundation to help many of the communities that had been seriously affected.

Updated: 09:14 Wednesday, May 30, 2001