The DalesBus services had been under threat because of budgetary pressures, increased operating costs and new legal requirements which had seen some operators withdraw their involvement in providing services.

But a partnership headed by North Yorkshire County Council has allowed most services to be retained for 2008, and even some useful new links to be provided.

The services, which will run until September 7, are being funded by the county council in partnership with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Metro, the National Trust, the Friends of the Settle Carlisle Line, and the Yorkshire Dales Public Transport Users Group.

The following services are among those being provided:

• Wensleydale Explorer Bus Service 807: Leyburn to Hawes and Ribblehead
• Wensleydale Explorer Bus Service 808: Ribblehead to Hawes, Aysgarth and Buckden
• Fountains Flyer Service 802: Leeds and Otley to Pateley Bridge, Fountains Abbey, Ripon, Leyburn and Richmond

Among the new facilities being provided are an earlier bus from Leyburn up Wensleydale to Hawes and Ribblehead, connections into Wensleydale from Ribblehead Station on the popular Leeds – Settle – Carlisle railway line and links to Brimham Rocks in Nidderdale.

Coun Clare Wood, the county council's executive member for environmental services, said she was delighted that services had been secured and additional funding obtained as a result of the partnership.

"This is a good example of the council and the voluntary sector working together," she said.

Full details of the DalesBus services are available online from www.dalesbus.org or from the council's website at www.northyorks.gov.uk