The future of more than 80 bus routes looks secure today following assurances from transport chiefs.

However, in a review of underused public transport, some routes are to be axed and services reduced on others.

Among the services to be saved are those that run from the Arriva depot, in Richmond, which is to shut on Saturday.

Last year, North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) launched a review of 93 of its most subsidised services in a bid to reduce a £311,000 shortfall.

A report published yesterday recommends that some services are withdrawn. Officers also propose that others are reduced and fares are increased on at least three routes.

But Councillor Clare Wood, the council's executive member for environmental services, claims very few residents will be disadvantaged by the changes.

She said: "I believe the recommendations of the report spell out a bus service that not only meets the transport needs of North Yorkshire's communities, but also represents value for money.

"Everyone can be reassured that we are spending their taxes as sensibly as possible.

"There will be some amendments to timetables and fare structures on other routes, but the fact is that NYCC will continue to provide a very good network of rural bus services over a large land area, so much of it very rural.

"We will continue to champion other ways of keeping North Yorkshire moving, such as community based transport, which can be more responsive to actual demand."

The council is to spend more than £5m during the next financial year on subsidising public transport.

One of the bus services under threat, between Sedbergh, Hawes and Thwaite, costs the taxpayer almost £50 per passenger.

More than 1,000 responses were received to a consultation exercise carried out by the authority.

A final decision will be made at a meeting tomorrow.

Residents had been told the 11 services that run from the Richmond Arriva depot were at risk.

However, Richard Owens, the council's head of integrated passenger transport, said yesterday that all services would be retained, although some timetables may be altered.

"We're in the process now of finalising contracts with new operators," he said.