North Yorkshire is to benefit from major new infrastructure funding, the Department for Transport has announced.

Some £29 million of investment has been pledged to allow the construction of the A684 bypass, which will improve journey times on a major east-west tourist route.

Communities in the area will also benefit, as the new link will bypass the villages of Bedale, Aiskew and Leeming Bar, making their roads quieter and safer.

The project involves the construction of a new 4.8 kilometre single carriageway road from the A684 north of Bedale to the A684 east of Leeming Bar, which links into junction 51 of the A1(M).

Transport minister Baroness Kramer said: "We are putting £29 million into this project because the government is serious about investing in the infrastructure the country needs to drive economic growth, both locally and nationally."

Work on the scheme is due to commence shortly and is scheduled for completion in May 2016.