An isolated village with a population of about 400 is to get its first bus service in 13 years.

The last bus into Lothersdale, near Skipton, was in 1986 at the time of deregulation of bus services during the privatisation era of the Thatcher government.

The new service, which will link with Airedale General Hospital at Steeton and Silsden and Steeton railway station, has been financed by cash from North Yorkshire's Rural Bus Grant Fund.

The new Skipton-bound service 80 is being run by Keighley & District Travel and starts on February 1. The two-hourly bus will run from Monday to Saturday starting in Lothersdale at 9.35am, the last from 3.35pm.

It has been welcomed in the village where the only shop closed last year, leaving people having to travel by car or even taxi to Cross Hills, about three miles away.

Lothersdale Parish Council clerk Robert Davis said: "This is excellent news. It means people can now use public transport to get out to the hospital and the station.''

There was still hope that eventually the service could be extended into the evening so that youngsters who had travelled into Skipton or Cross Hills could get back home without relying on parents.

Villager Muriel Hobson, 70, who cannot drive, said: "I have to be shipped from pillar to post by my daughter and brother. This should be a big help.''

She said it would help her get into Skipton and Cross Hills to the shops and felt that it would be more popular when spring arrived.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council said: "If the service takes off and it is demonstrated that people also want to use it in the peak period - earlier and later in the day - it could be extended.''

He said the service was cheaper during the middle of the day because the buses were not as in demand as at the peak time in the mornings and evenings.

The service was made possible with a £1.38m cash boost which North Yorkshire County Council received through the Government's Rural Bus Grant Fund.

l Other new or enhanced services were 212 extra journey at 10.15 and 19.00 from Skipton to Carleton and at 10.25 and 19.10 from Carleton to Skipton.

Enhanced service 25 Keighley to Cowling by Keighley & District Travel, extra journey at 22.40 from Keighley to Colne and at 23.20 from Colne to Keighley.

There will also be extra trips to Airedale hospital on the Keighley-Farnhill-Skipton route service 70.

Also additional trips to Airedale hospital on the Skipton-Sutton-Keighley route service 78 and 79.

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