A CHARITY account has been opened for funds and donations raised by the Dickens Gift to Yorkshire project.

Selina Scott officially opened the account at the Yorkshire Building Society’s Malton branch.

Ms Scott initiated a campaign to buy the signed 1844 edition of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to provide a literacy legacy for the town.

The book, which had been hidden from public view, was bought in New York from a private vendor, following an appeal to raise the funds made in the Gazette & Herald in December.

It was on display at the Talbot Hotel over Christmas and is currently being looked after at the University of York library Future plans include taking the book ‘on tour’ to schools and organisations around the area, as well as reviving the Christmas Dickens festival and linking with other events in the town, including the Malton Food Lovers Festival.

Frank Nicholson, manager of the Malton branch of the Yorkshire Building Society, said: “The book is a great way to put Malton on the map with Dickens fans and we want to do all we can to support the promotion of this book.”