A NORTH Yorkshire steam bus service which is believed to be the only one in the world still operating could be under threat because of health and safety concerns.

The service, known as Elizabeth, picks up passengers from the end of Whitby’s historic pier, but officials now want its departure point to be moved to outside the RNLI Whitby Lifeboat Museum. Its operator Vernon Smith said this could cause severe damage to his business because there would be less passing trade.

North Yorkshire County Council’s highways department proposed the change because passengers currently have to step off the bus into the road and said it hoped a “mutually satisfactory arrangement” could be reached, but safety had to take priority.