Residents are rejoicing after transport chiefs took on board their objections to the cancellation of a bus service - and immediately reinstated it.

Householders in Addingham and Sandbeds were furious when it was revealed the 765 service was to be rerouted to exclude Sandbeds from February 15.

But letters and complaints by passengers led to a rethink by Keighley and District Travel, whose bosses have now decided to keep the service as it is.

The 765 service links Addingham and Sandbeds with Ilkley and Keighley.

The company has also announced that it will be increasing the regularity of the service by running it every 30 minutes.

When Keighley and District Travel decided to make alterations to the service officials asked for feedback from commuters.

Keighley and District Travel commercial manager Geoff Lomax said: "It is a likely outcome that the service will remain. When we introduced the service changes to improve them we wanted to take on board any complaints as soon as possible.

"We had thought there would be little inconvenience caused by us coming out of Sandbeds but we have received a number of letters and complaints from Addingham Parish Council asking us to reconsider.

"So the service is likely to continue on it's present route and there will be a service every 30 minutes instead of hourly."

These changes and others are to be imposed on February 10.

If the 765 service had been re-routed, Sandbeds and Low Mill residents would have had to cross the busy A65 Skipton Road to reach alternative bus stops for Skipton and Keighley services.

Sandbeds resident Betty Walker, 74, said: "I am absolutely delighted at the news. It would have been impossible for me and my 80-year-old neighbour to cross the A65 road.

"I have been really nervous ever since I heard they were taking the service away, but this news is just magic."

The Chairman of Addingham Parish Council, Councillor Gordon Campbell, said: "We complained straight away when we heard that they planned to reduce the service in Sandbeds itself.

"It needs a service and I'm really pleased that they have reconsidered the bus. We heard that they had thought it was too dangerous to take a bus down there, but with the Low Mill factory closing there will be no more wagons on the road.

"I'm just very happy our protests have actually been listened to."

The parish council is still campaigning for a new minibus service to be introduced at least once a week for the elderly.

It would be similar to the 903 service which runs between Addingham, Silsden and Airedale General Hospital

Councillors have requested Metro, the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, to fund the new service from Addingham to Ilkley.

A Metro spokesman said no decision has yet been made on the minibus.