LOCAL charity fundraisers and exhibitors should still be able to hold events at Watershed Mill, in Settle, after refurbishment work is completed this summer.

Rumours have been circulating the area that the shop owned by Edinburgh Woollen Mills had been bought by another mill outlet.

But Richard Whorton, manager of the mill shop outlet in Settle said those reports werel just "Chinese whispers" and that Watershed Mill definitely had not been sold. Instead the retail space was getting bigger and more jobs would be created.

The news will be a relief for groups like Bentham Pet Rescue which was founded eight years ago by Peter and Val Marshall.

They hold book sales four times a year at the mill which are the charity's main source of income.

"We are hopeful that we will still be able to carry on because we are a locally based charity organisation and rely on volunteers to carry the books to the mill for us. We certainly don't want to have to look too much further afield if we can help it," said Mrs Marshall.

On a sadder note, one charity organisation for whom the last chapter has been written following news of the refurbishment is Marie Curie Cancer Care, which also benefited from regular books sales.

Started two years ago by Merrill and Norma Ham, of Settle (pictured above), the monthly sales have raised more than £25,000 for the nursing service and the venture has grown to a stock of more than 4,500 books. The improvements mean that there will not be enough space to hold their sales and keep their stock.

"Obviously we are very sad that the book sales have to end, but we have had two very good years, made a lot of friends and met a great number of nice people," said Mr Ham.