A HILL farmer and former rugby player from Malham dale has been elected Chairman of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

Neil Heseltine has been a Member of the Authority for six years and is one of four Parish Council-appointees on the board.

“I’d like to thank members for their support. Becoming chair of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is a huge honour,” he said.

“I’m motivated by what’s outside the window – the Yorkshire Dales National Park – the landscape, the environment, the wildlife, and the people who live in that landscape, work in its environment and who visit."

The Chairman of the National Park Authority is a key leadership role.