AN INNOVATIVE project led by North Yorkshire’s library service has helped to celebrate Yorkshire’s rich dialects.

The library service secured funding from the Arts Council and the Dialect and Heritage Project last year to run a series of workshops with “hard-to-reach” residents.

Added funding from the council also helped to launch the Ey Up! Project, which involved young people, military veterans and those with mental health issues.

Library staff worked with one of these audiences and a single artist over four weekly workshops.

Residents are now being encouraged to visit the exhibitions in Bentham, Catterick, Knaresborough, Scarborough and Selby libraries.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for libraries, Cllr Greg White, said: “We have received great feedback from those who took part in the sessions as well as the artists. It offered a chance to celebrate Yorkshire’s rich dialects and increase awareness of local history.

“We have been very impressed with the amount of work that has gone into the exhibitions. It’s another new project that our libraries have been involved with which has encouraged new visitors through the doors.”

The exhibitions will be on display until the end of February.

For details of opening hours and library contacts, visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/local-libraries