A RYEDALE village is one of the areas in North Yorkshire which has no mobile phone coverage.

Duggleby was identified as a “not spot” - one of a number of places with no coverage in an independent survey provided for North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC).

The survey showed that the county has some coverage in most areas, but coverage by individual operators is patchy.

It revealed that while there are areas with no coverage, many will be addressed by planned work by commercial mobile network operators in conjunction with the new Emergency Services Network.

It identified a small number of places with no coverage where NYCC could consider providing infrastructure to improve coverage, if no commercial remedy is planned.

Earlier this year, NYCC secured £1m to improve mobile phone coverage in “not spots”.

The authority is now consulting mobile network operators and others to learn whether mast developments are planned in any of these areas in the next three years.

At present, these are sites for potential investment subject to detailed surveying and analysis. Any proposals for development of masts will be based on the results of the consultation and factors including the area covered, population, businesses within the locality, amount of road covered and number of visitors.

County Councillor Don Mackenzie, pictured, NYCC’s executive member for access, said: “We are making progress and will use the investment funds available to achieve the best support for business growth and tourism, as well as to help to remove social isolation and help young people to build futures within their communities.”