A big gathering of Girl Guides in Skipton has been saved after the Rendezvous Hotel stepped in to help.

Plans for the North East Trefoil Guild to meet in Skipton Town Hall next month had been at an advanced stage when Craven District Council told organisers they would have to look elsewhere.

Organiser Margaret Lawson said she had been deeply disappointed and believed she would have to take the gathering – of more than 200 – out of the town.

But the Rendezvous has stepped in with an offer of help and with a larger venue capable of taking even more guests.

Mrs Lawson said: “I am really so relieved. I had all these people coming to Skipton and nowhere to put them but the Rendezvous has offered us a really good deal.”

The gathering, which will have senior Guild members from all over the North East, had been restricted to less than 300 even though more than 400 had expressed an interest to attend.

Mrs Lawson said they planned to run shuttle buses from the hotel so members could visit the town centre.