BUS travellers are in revolt over a switch to their late-night country bus service because it will not give them enough drinking up time for their last pints.

Anger centres on the last bus from Otley to Harrogate - it departs at 11.05pm, but from Sunday it will leave at 10.15pm. And that has sparked protests about cutting into "supping up time".

Villagers in North Rigton and Weeton were delighted that the Rural Transport Initiative gave them a night-time service to Otley and Harrogate three years ago.

North Yorkshire county councillor for the Huby and Weeton area Richard Thomas said: "I have protested about this change in the strongest possible terms because there has been no official consultation. This is no way to behave.

"People are being encouraged to leave their cars at home and use public transport. But cutting back the time of the last bus simply defeats the object."

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council said they would "endeavour to negotiate" a compromise. But Coun Thomas has written back saying he was asking for the service's reinstatement, not compromise."