OTLEY Courthouse has been given a royal seal of approval – by winning the Duke of York’s Community Initiative award.

The arts venue is one of just 43 Yorkshire and Humberside based organisations to have been named as a recipient of the honour this year.

The Otley centre, like all the winners, was scrutinised and judged to be “of real value to the community, well run and an inspiration to others”.

Vice-chairman of the Courthouse’s board of directors Hazel Costello was presented with the award by the Duke of York at a ceremony in Rotherham last week.

The citation for the accolade said: “Otley Courthouse is an arts centre for the whole community.

“More than 100 volunteers help to provide theatre, music, film, literature, comedy and dance.”

The Courthouse opened in May, 2004, following the conversion of Otley’s 19th Century Magistrates’ Court complex.