PASSENGERS are being offered free travel for a week on a new bus service.

The Hawes area village bus will provide a Monday-to-Saturday service connecting the town to trains at Garsdale station.

At other times, the bus will make journeys between Hawes and surrounding villages, including Appersett, Hardraw, Simonstone, Sedbusk and Burtersett. From Monday, passengers will be able to travel free for a week on the service, which has been launched following a successful bid by North Yorkshire County Council to the Government's rural bus challenge competition.

The service will be operated by Harrogate District Community Transport, using a 14-seat vehicle with wheelchair access.