THE Yorkshire Organic Centre will open at Skipton Auction Mart on Thursday, offering information and support to the organic community.

It has been established by the Soil Association, with funding from Yorkshire Forward, and its aim is to increase organic food and farming activities in the region.

The centre's full-time technical services and development officer and a part-time administrator will offer technical and marketing advice and training to organic farmers, growers or processors, and those wishing to start up organic production.

Other key activities will include a regional organic trade directory listing producers, processors and retailers.

Phil Stocker, the Soil Association's head of agriculture, added: "The Yorkshire Organic Centre will be a really exciting boost for organic businesses in the region."

It can be contacted on 01756 796222.

o The auction mart will also be the venue of a new national centre for studying the cultural and economic heritage of the Yorkshire Dales

It is being created by Craven College and Skipton Auction Mart, and has received backing from Yorkshire and Humber Euro MP David Bowe.

Mr Bowe visited the auction mart on Monday to see the progress being made.

He said: "I believe that eventually it could become an important national resource for heritage education and training, using the Dales as a rich resource for studies on landscape, geology and traditional crafts and skills."