A £960,000 bid to give bus services in and around Otley a complete makeover has been submitted to the Government.

As well as improved services between Otley and the surrounding communities, the bid includes the laying on of 'yellow' school buses and an after schools service.

If successful, it will mean children from all over the area being transported to after school activities at places like Otley Chevin and Yeadon Tarn.

Other features are improvements to Otley Bus Station and user friendly bus information.

The bid, which will either be approved or rejected in January next year, also features the development of Accessbus - a low floor entry bus which passengers can order by telephone and be picked up right at their door.

Called Transport for All, the project is a result of lengthy talks between the West Yorkshire Passenger Authority (WYPTA), Otley Town Council and Otley Town Partnership.

Otley Mayor, Councillor Phil Coyne, chairman of Otley Town Partnership, said it was a very exciting bid that tied in perfectly with the Market Towns Initiative.

The joint Yorkshire Forward and Countryside Agency's Market Town's Initiative aims to pour £360,000, plus matched funding, into Otley and its surrounding hinterland.

He said: "It will start to provide something like an adequate public transport system for Otley and its hinterland.

"This has happened as a consequence of getting the Market Towns money and is great for the town."

Coun Coyne said the introduction of buses for after school clubs would be a great benefit to children from all over the area.

"We need to get groups of children up to places like Yeadon Tarn, Otley Chevin and even the Chippendale Pool. It has been a real problem and this will make a difference."

It is estimated the project will cost in the region of £962,000 and WYPTA has applied to the Government's Rural Bus Challenge Competition for £802,000 of it.

Key elements of the bid are:

l Introduction of market day services, 'yellow' buses for schoolchildren, after school club services and Accessbus.

l Improvements to Otley Bus Station for passengers to get on and off buses including improvements for people with disabilities.

l Provision of user-friendly public transport information.

l Focus on community transport-based initiatives for groups and individuals to provide evening and weekend transport.

A spokeswoman for WYPTA said it was a wide ranging and innovative makeover for Otley and the surrounding towns and villages.

And she said it built upon the good work already achieved by Metro and the town council with the bus link to Menston Railway Station.

"The package of local transport initiatives will enhance the whole transport experience for everyone in Otley as well as those from surrounding areas using the market shops, medical facilities, schools, banks and commercial facilities."