A bus company which rescued a Dales service last summer when Pennine buses folded, is to launch the first Sunday service between Skipton and Kirkby Lonsdale in living memory.

It comes at the same time as family firm, Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire, announces improvements, from May, to its Craven Connection 580 service, which it took on last summer.

The hourly, unsubsidised bus will run from Monday to Saturday, as a "cost effective , viable alternative to the car and train," said KLCH manager, Matthew Sutton.

"We saw the need to plug the three hour "gap" in the afternoon where we were using the buses to transport school pupils home from Skipton and Settle.

"The new hourly service should allow people to use the bus more regularly for a quick shop as well as the longer day out or commute."

Passenger numbers on the 580 have been good since the launch in July, last year, and with the improved hourly service and the summer Sunday bus until the end of September - he believed the first for decades - it was anticipated they would increase for days out, shopping and commuting.

The set-up had to be confirmed by the traffic commissioners and time tables would be drawn up in time for the launch in May.

Colin Speakman, of Friends of DalesBus, said the upgrade was a "massive step change" and would give people a better service than that previously run by Pennine.

"Along with the Sunday service we will soon have buses along the A65 seven days a week, the first time for many years,” he said.

"Whilst this is fantastic news, and a real boost to the quality of life of local people and to the economy of Craven, it is as well to remember that this upgrade on the 580 is being done without any public subsidy and is a major commercial risk.

"Its success will depend on each and everyone of us doing all we can to make people aware of the new service, to use it ourselves and to encourage others to do so whenever possible."

Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire Ltd was founded in 1991 by Stephen and Jane Sutton. Their sons, Matthew and Tim, are now heavily involved in the management and running of the company. It operates 24 buses and coaches around the local area from Lancaster to Kendal and across to Skipton with 40 employees.