THE twin towns of Malton and Norton were today celebrating the award of a million pounds of regeneration cash.

An announcement today of the award by the Countryside Agency and Yorkshire Forward was being made at the Halifax Agricultural Show.

The Mayor of Malton, Coun Norris Binner, said: "This is a message from the Countryside Agency that we are getting it right. In my view this money should go to the young people and to the old, it's for everybody."

Coun Binner added that the efforts of the Civic Trust and the town centre managers had played a significant role in securing the money.

Gerry Fitzhenry, one of the town centre managers, said: "It's great news. I am hoping people will now come forward with projects that support the economic and social vitality of the area."

The money has been awarded under the Market Towns Initiative, a pioneering Countryside Agency scheme launched in Malton in June.

The scheme aims to help struggling market towns in Yorkshire, and will eventually be rolled out across the country.

Six towns in Yorkshire have been selected to receive money, although a total of 18 are set to benefit over the next three years.

Selections were made on the basis of need, opportunity and the commitment of other partnership groups.

Each town has to draw up a plan of how they will spend the money to improve the area's transport, environment, economy, community and other areas.

The six towns have each received an average of £340,000, but it is expected this figure will reach £1 million once funding from other sources has been secured.

Roddy Bushell, manager of Fitzwilliam Estate, Malton's largest landlord, said: "This is great news for Malton and Norton. The estate has worked hard over the last three years to lead a more positive debate about the future of the towns, and to support the formation of a Town Forum.

The existence of a forum with an action plan in the form of a civic trust report went a long way to persuading the Countryside Agency to select Malton and Norton for this grant. Now we must move forward and make the most of it."

Pam Warhurst, Yorkshire Forward board member and deputy chairman of the Countryside Agency said: "This initiative is crucial to the reinvigoration of rural centres. It provides the opportunity to the towns to direct funding into job creation and attracting business as well as re-establishing themselves as service providers to their surrounding areas.

"Yorkshire Forward and the Countryside Agency will, through partnerships with others, empower market towns by encouraging them to participate at a grass roots level in their own regeneration."

PICTURE: HANDY: Malton mayor Norris Binner celebrates the £1 million award