A DEDICATED community bus linking Otley and surrounding villages could start in the new year.

The 20-seater, low floor bus, part of Metro's £962,000 Transport for All project, will aim to help commuters getting to and from Leeds and bring people into Otley from outlying villages, such as Farnley, Askwith and Arthington.

The bus will also ferry schoolchildren to Otley's All Saints After School Club at Cross Green and shuttle shoppers to Safeway in Westgate.

It is hoped that the bus, which if everything goes to plan will be operated by Guiseley-based Aztec Bird, will also be available to community groups to use in the evening.

Dave Pearson, Metro's Bus and Rail Manager, said it was hoped that everything would be finalised very soon and that the service would start in January.

The three-year project has taken more than a year to come to fruition because of problems in finding a bus operator willing to take on a project of its relatively small size. Over the last year, several consultative meetings have taken place and people have been sent questionnaires asking what travel improvements they would like.

During the morning peak, between 8am and 9am, the bus will run from Holt Park, Leeds, to Otley via Bramhope and Pool-in-Wharfedale and back again.

Mr Pearson said: "There was some concern from people in Pool that there were no through buses to Headingley. This will mean they will be able to pick up buses at Holt Park."

He said the bus would also pick people up from the Cookridge and Bramhope areas wanting to get into Otley.

Throughout the day the bus will then carry out a number of journeys linking villages Askwith, Leathley, Farnley, Bramhope and Arthington to Otley.

Mr Pearson stressed that the final arrangements for the bus routes were still being worked out and that discussions were still taking place how best it could be used.

In addition, Metro was in discussions with Aztec Bird about using the bus in the evenings for groups and organisations to use.

"We want community groups to be able to use the vehicle and its driver, groups do have particular needs in the evenings," he said.

In addition, Metro will be looking at making improvements to bus shelters and to Otley Bus Station.