County council bosses are hoping to capitalise on the world famous landscape of North Yorkshire, including the Craven area, to encourage more people to get wed within its boundaries.

North Yorkshire County Council wants more people to get spliced in the county's stately homes, castles and hotels.

It has set aside £80,000 - some of it European cash - to help subsidise the £850 cost of a licence to hold weddings.

Gordon Gresty, the county's head of trading standards and regulatory services, said the county, known worldwide following the success of programmes like Heartbeat and All Creatures Great and Small, was already a popular wedding destination.

He said: "Encouraging people to come into the county to get married presents very real economic development opportunities with each wedding often resulting in significant local expenditure."

He said a tourism and marketing consultant, who specialises in wedding businesses, has been appointed to offer advice, visit venues and suggest potential locations.

To encourage more venues to open, the county is to meet half the cost of a licence.

The county has set up a website where people can find venues and information about the scheme. It is on www.north yorks.gov.uk/weddings.

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