One of the ancient trades of the Yorkshire Dales, the parish lengthsman, is to be partially resurrected long after the job disappeared, thanks to grants from the LEADER programme organised by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.

Twenty-one Dales parish councils will soon be able to employ caretakers to look after their communities, who are likely to take on local jobs once carried out by the linesmen like keeping road verges trimmed, ditches cleared, benches mended and snow cleared.

The LEADER programme, which is promoting economic and community well-being throughout the Yorkshire Dales, awarded between £2,000 and £5,000 to parish councils in the area in December. Some of the 21 parishes to benefit include: Eppleby, Askrigg, Low Abbotside, Bentham, Burton cum Walden and Bainbridge.

There will be another opportunity for parishes to start their own parish caretaker scheme later this year. Deadline for applications will close on October 1st 2010 for schemes starting in January 2011.

Application forms, guidance notes and criteria will be available in the summer, please consult the LEADER website for further information www.yorkshiredalesleader.co.uk