NORTH Yorkshire-born TV star Selina Scott has narrated an audiobook version of a famous Christmas tale said to have been inspired by a Ryedale town to help boost awareness of its celebrated author.

The Scarborough-born TV star, who now lives in Malton, has recorded a version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, and all proceeds from its sale will to go a Yorkshire Dickens charity.

Dickens’ Gift To Yorkshire was set up specially to promote education about the author in the county.

Money raised by the recording will fund taking a rare signed edition of A Christmas Carol, thought to prove the author’s close links to Malton, on tour.

The 1844 copy was bought for £27,000 and brought back to Yorkshire earlier this year, after a fundraising campaign led by Selina. It was originally a gift from Dickens to the widow of his friend, Malton lawyer Charles Smithson.