FOR years the residents of a North Yorkshire village have struggled with only a handful of buses a week, while neighbouring settlements have had as many as five a day.

Now all is changing at Bulmer, near Malton, thanks to a campaign by the parish council, backed by the villagers, and given the support of North Yorkshire County Council.

Parish councillor Mark Jones, who has masterminded much of the initiative, said: "We have had a bus on only three days a week, and on a Saturday. Now we shall have five a day.

"We have a number of elderly people as well as young ones, who don't have their own transport. The situation came home to me when I studied the local timetable and I realised how poorly served Bulmer was."

A public meeting was held, attended by many members of Bulmer's 80 households, and a request was made to the transport department at County Hall for help. "We are very grateful to the county council because the new service will improve the quality of life for many people," said Mr Jones.

Richard Owens, the county council's passenger transport manager, said: "A change to one of our supported bus services has allowed a much better service to be provided for the villagers at Bulmer. It is an example of the county council working with local communities to help them with their transport needs."

The additional journeys to and from Bulmer are being made on Service 81, which is being extended into the village. The new service will provide five buses a day, six days a week, to York and Malton.

Copies of the new time table have been sent to Bulmer parish council. Further information on the service can be obtained by phoning Traveline on 0870 608 2608.

Updated: 10:16 Monday, February 17, 2003