A CENTRE for Digital Innovation (C4DI) has been confirmed as one of the companies to be based on the former Northallerton prison site.

The C4DI helps companies grow by bringing them together with industry through innovation programmes.

The Northallerton base will be a 24/7 co-working space with a community of specialists giving access to technical expertise.

It will have an initial focus on agritech – the use of technology in agriculture, horticulture and food processing

Hambleton District Council leader, Mark Robson, said: “This is a very exciting project for Hambleton – the first of its kind in North Yorkshire. Work in the agritech area – which is a large part of the Hambleton economy - will help these businesses improve yield, efficiency and profitability.

"By bringing the agriculture and food sectors together in the tech centre we hope to see them develop and grow.”