Ensuring people have access to the national park by public transport is one of the key challenges facing Craven, a Government minister said.

Rosie Winterton, Regional Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber and Transport Minister, has been on a fact-finding tour of Skipton and the Dales.

During her visit last Thursday, Mrs Winterton said it was not only important to highlight problems facing rural communities, but also the area's achievements.

"I'm very proud of such a beautiful national park," she said.

Mrs Winterton was meeting Craven representatives to discuss problems faced by people in rural areas.

She said: "I think it is important to be able to meet people, to hear about some of the projects they're doing and about achievements in the area. I can then let other ministers know about what good work is going on and about the problems people are facing."

In the morning, Mrs Winterton visited Settle, where she met Keighley MP Ann Cryer who is vice-president of the Yorkshire Dales Society.

Mrs Cryer told Mrs Winterton the national park had become a victim of its own popularity, and improved bus and rail links were needed so visitors from Keighley and Bradford could leave their cars at home when visiting the park.

Jon Avison, head of park management, said: "More than 90 per cent of visitors access the Dales in private cars, creating congestion on the roads and in villages at peak times and, at the same time, creating a huge carbon footprint.

"The provision of a modern, comprehensive public transport service is vital not only to give both visitors and local communities the choice of reducing their carbon footprint, but also to provide those without access to private cars with the opportunity to visit and enjoy the wonderful countryside of the Dales.

"The Minister's visit highlighted the need for all with an interest in the national park and the rural economy - both private businesses and public bodies - to work in partnership to achieve this."

Mrs Winterton said: "It is important to continue to encourage people to use public transport through organisations like the Yorkshire Dales Society.

"It will also be important to get new plans for the future to ensure that public transport meets needs."

She said the Government needed to continue to do what it could to improve rural services.

"With some additional funding, we would be able to expand the transport services available to the park," she said.

Mrs Winterton also visited Skipton's Greatwood Community Primary School. "It's a lovely school and the children have been so welcoming. And it will be good to talk about some of the issues around education in a rural setting," she said.

Mrs Winterton said it was nice to see the achievements of a successful school and what had been achieved in providing "wraparound care". "Wraparound care, like breakfast and after schools clubs, is particularly important in an area like this where people may have to travel to work," she said.

She also toured Craven College's auction mart site and heard from staff how courses were giving local businesses the manpower they needed to compete.

Principal Alan Blackwell said: "All those hard-working staff in our local schools and here at the college can be greatly reassured Rosie Winterton will keep championing rural issues at regional and national levels of Government."