A NEW bus service designed to help young people get home from one of North Yorkshire's biggest nightclubs is already causing concern.

From the end of this month, an early morning shuttle service will collect Easingwold teenagers from the Ikon and Diva nightclub at Clifton Moor, York, and drop them off in the town's market square.

A decision on whether the Countrywide Travel service should run at 1.45am or 2.15am will be confirmed this week.

The launch comes after negotiations between Easingwold town councillors, the county council and police, despite opposition from residents concerned over rowdy behaviour.

But councillors who have been supporting the project claim the scheme has been watered down from its original outline, which included a pick-up point in central York.

"The whole point of the grant from the Countryside Agency was to promote a pilot project for six months," said the Mayor of Easingwold, Councillor Diane Gallon.

"That project's pick-up points started in York. We need to see how that develops before we can make any hard-and-fast decision about cutting it. Further discussions are needed."

County council transport officer Ian Pearson confirmed a revision had been made, but said it was important to test the service's popularity before announcing another stop.

"As there are regular buses from the town centre to Clifton Moor, it seemed sensible to have just the one pick-up point," he said.

"This follows our discussions with police. We will, however, review the situation over the coming months."