Authorities in the Yorkshire Dales are encouraging visitors to use public transport to cut down pollution.

Two new bus services will run from outside the national park, linking with trains and tying in with a series of guided walks.

The Cravenlink bus will connect with trains from Ilkley and Skipton stations and will run into Bolton Abbey in Wharfedale. A Dales Experience bus will also run from 20 May from Huddersfield, calling at Bradford, Ilkley and Skipton en route for Malham.

Keighley MP Ann Cryer was among the first to use the Cravenlink bus at the weekend and led a walk which included members of the Mosaic Partnership, which aims to get ethnic minorities using the Yorkshire Dales National Park more.

Mrs Cryer said: “It is vital for the health and well-being of people in our towns and cities that good, affordable weekend public transport is available to enable city dwellers to reach the national park without a car.

“Cars are now a major source of pollution and congestion in the Yorkshire Dales. We must ensure alternative ways of reaching the Dales are made available and that people are encouraged to use them.”

Details of the services are on the Yorkshire Dales Public Transport Users Group website .