RESIDENTS keen to protect the history and natural heritage of Ingleborough are being invited to apply for funding.

The Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, based in Clapham, is offering grants as part of the Stories in Stone programme, which is already helping to restore a 16th century packhorse bridge, and fund walk leaflets about archaeological features on 723m Ingleborough, the second highest of Yorkshire's Three Peaks.

Chris Lodge, Stories in Stone project officer, said: "The grant scheme provides great opportunities for residents to help protect the rich historical and natural heritage of the Ingleborough area.

"If you have an idea for a local heritage project I’d be delighted to hear from you and I can help you to develop your grant application."

A grant has already been awarded to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority to restore and consolidate a Grade ll-listed, stone-built packhorse bridge that crosses Thorn Gill, close to the deserted hamlet of Thorns, near Ribblehead.

The scenic, centuries-old bridge carries a public right of way footpath and needs repair work to pack voids that are appearing in the stonework.

The deadline for grant bids is 10am on Tuesday, June 27. For more, call Chris on 015242-51002 or email chris.lodge@ydmt.org; and you can download the form at www.ydmt.org/resources

Stories in Stone was developed by the Ingleborough Dales Landscape Partnership, which is led by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust and mainly funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund.

To date the trust has helped to deliver more than 1,900 projects worth around £27 million in the Yorkshire Dales and surrounding areas.

www.ydmt.org

www.storiesinstone.org.uk