NUNS from Stanbrook Abbey are looking to make their new home on a hilltop on a North Yorkshire sheep farm.

The Benedictine community, which has been based at Callow End since 1838, is seeking permission to build a new monastery at Wass, near Thirsk.

"I don't think it could be more different from Callow End if we tried. I certainly don't think we would suffer from floods," said Abbess Joanna Jamieson.

"There are two hills on the farm. One has the former farmhouse on it and we want to build a monastery on the other one, big enough for a community of 30 nuns."

However, she said the plan was by no means secure and Stanbrook Abbey was not on the market.

The community has made a "special case" application, because the hill farm site is in the North York Moors National Park, where large-scale new development is not normally permitted.

"The application is very sensitive and we still don't have a clear idea what is going to happen at the Abbey.

"We are not at the stage of putting it on the market, but as soon as we know what we are doing, we will tell everybody," said Mother Joanna.

The 28 nuns and two postulants decided in April 2002 to move from Stanbrook Abbey and have been seeking a suitable place ever since.

Their new abbey must include an infirmary where elderly nuns can be cared for, as well as a church, cloisters and a large library.

This is the third possible site in North Yorkshire to be considered, starting with a piece of land offered as a gift after the nuns announced their intention of moving.

The Abbess said it looked like God wanted them to move north.

"I feel we are being pushed towards Yorkshire," said the Abbess.