A BUS service linking remote villages in the dales to Darlington made its first journey yesterday.

The number 70 service has been introduced to provide better access to Darlington Memorial Hospital and the town centre for people living in villages in Teesdale.

The service will also provide fully trained passenger assistants to help people with mobility difficulties travel to hospital appointments or to visit family and friends.

The assistants will take passengers from the low-floor access bus into the hospital where they will liaise with reception staff and then wait to pick up their passengers at the end of their visit.

As well as taking people directly to hospital, service 70 will give visitors a link between Darlington and Bowes Museum, calling at the villages of Whorlton, Little Newsham, South Cleatlam, Staindrop, Ingleton and Summerhouses, many of which do not have regular bus services.

Councillor Charles Magee, chairman of Durham County Council, who launched the service at Darlington Memorial Hospital, said: "It is a good example of team work between the county council and the health services.

"It is important that we ensure that people living in remote areas of the county, especially the elderly or those without their own transport, have a link to their hospitals, and this service aims to provide just that."

Copies of the timetable are available from the council on 0191-383 3337 or from Barnard Castle Tourist Information Centre. Further information is available from Traveline North-East on 0870-6082 608 daily, between 7am and 8pm.