A BUS service from Teesside to the Yorkshire Dales will launch on Easter Sunday, operating every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday until October 19.

The DalesBus service departs from Middlesbrough at 9am, Stockton at 9.10am and Darlington at 9.40am, and will stop at Richmond, Reeth, Swaledale, Hawes, Ribblehead and Ingleton.

It passes through Reeth, Gunnerside and Muker with attractive walks along the banks of the River Swale, then crosses Buttertubs Pass to Hawes in Wensleydale.

It then goes close to the Red Squirrel Trail at Snaizeholme before passing Ribblehead Viaduct on the route to White Scar Caves and Ingleton.

The Northern Dalesman service is being operated by Arriva for the Dales & Bowland Community Interest Company, a subsidiary of the charitable Yorkshire Dales Society.

Some funding has been provided by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Sustainable Development Fund, and it has been generously match-funded by the Yorkshire Dales Society, Friends of Settle-Carlisle Line and Friends of DalesBus.

Its continuation in future years depends upon the number of passengers carried; most return journeys will be no more than £10 and two children can travel free with an adult farepayer. Bus pass holders travel free.

There will be a discounted entry to Richmond Castle for DalesBus users.

For full details pick up a DalesBus timetable from a local bus or railway office, library or tourist information centre, or go to www.dalesbus.org.