VOLUNTEER drivers are needed to run a Saturday bus service between Embsay, Carleton and Skipton.

North Yorkshire County Council has agreed to provide the buses in addition to increased services in Skipton, but in an innovative move, it has appealed to the community to run the Saturday service.

Volunteer drivers will be trained in the same way as those running a similar community led service in Grassington and the frequency will be down to the number of volunteers.

It will mean the first Saturday service between the villages and Skipton since the demise of Pennine Motors in May.

Cllr Robert Heseltine (Ind) said it was an example of the council and community working together.

There was also an opportunity for under-pressure Skipton charity Skipton and Craven Disability for Action (SCAD) to get involved.

"Saturday is the day when people want to go into town to do their shopping and can be a social opportunity for older people, it should relieve isolation to a significant degree at the weekends. It can be a long time if you're living on your own from Friday to Monday," said Cllr Heseltine.

Steve Richardson, of the Carleton Save our Bus Campaign, welcomed the initiative and added the group had just this week launched its own volunteer driver scheme to help older and vulnerable people get about.

"My initial reaction is at last the council is using some imagination, we will certainly make sure that the appeal for drivers gets across," he said.

A similar scheme based at Grassington Hub has also seen vehicles from the council's school bus fleet utilised out of school hours. Training for volunteer drivers with appropriate licences is provided and a scheme is worked out by the community.

The scheme comes out of the county council’s Stronger Communities programme through which the authority supports communities to help themselves and create local solutions to services at a time of significant financial challenge.

“Through Stronger Communities we are working with local people to help them sustain their own solutions,” said Cllr Chris Metcalfe, the council's executive member for public transport.

“In a large rural county like ours the maintenance of a public transport network is crucial in helping people keep on the move and preventing social isolation."

Cllr Shelagh Marshall (Cons), recently awarded the OBE for services to the elderly, said: "I realise there is work to be done in finding volunteer drivers but it is a real opportunity to enable older people to get out at a weekend and connect to buses in Skipton to take them further afield."

From Monday, the council will also be putting on 22-seater buses throughout the week on the Skipton and Embsay route.

There will also be an extra early morning service in Skipton serving the Overdale, Greenacres and Regents estate areas.