A UNIQUE new bus service which will help Dales residents and visitors make the most of a day out could be up and running soon after Easter.

The Wharfedale Packhorse, which is a joint venture between Grassington Hub, Wharfedale Brewery and the Yorkshire Dales Society, is a minibus service linking pubs and restaurants in the Dales with Skipton and Ilkley.

It will run initially on Saturday evenings only and will use the Grassington Hub's bus to transport passengers between villages and the area's two major towns, enabling them to get catch last trains home, or in the other direction, returned to their Upper Wharfedale village.

Passengers will pre-book their places and will be collected from the last Pride of the Dales buses from Ilkley and Skipton that arrive in Grassington at about 7.15pm.

The scheme relies upon having enough volunteer drivers and so far five have come forward. It was originally hoped to have the service going by mid-February.

It is likely to appeal especially to those who want to drink alcohol on an evening out in pubs and restaurants.

Wharfedale Brewery's marketing director Jonathan Shepherd said that they had been hoping to have "seven or eight" drivers initially, but believed that they could run the service with the volunteers they have.

He said: "Obviously it would be better to have more drivers so that there is not too much work placed on individuals, but the volunteers we already have are very enthusiastic and committed to the idea. After the necessary training for drivers, we feel there is a good chance the service could start soon after Easter.

"We are confident it will make a huge difference to people who want to enjoy a full day out in the Dales. It will also get people back home from a night out in Leeds or Bradford."

Volunteer drivers, who must be under 70, should contact Ann Wild at the Grassington Hub office on 01756 752222 or email ann@grassingtonhub.org.uk.