A SPECIAL bus service taking visitors to some of the best known beauty spots in the North York Moors National Park is set for a new season with extra services from around the region.

Last year over 10,000 journeys were made on the Moorsbus, transporting people from major towns including Darlington, Stockton, Middlesbrough, Redcar, Northallerton and Stokesley into the major tourist areas of the park.

Association member Colin Speakman said: "Our surveys show that 65 per cent of bus users were using the service to go walking in the park. This has helped support Moorsbus at a critically important time in the revival of the service over the last three years. It now goes from strength to strength."

He said 40 per cent of passengers had a car but opted instead to use the bus, reducing the impact of motorists on the park's roads. "But even more importantly, an impressive 60 per cent of people had no other way of getting to the park," he added.

Areas on the routes include Whitby, Pickering, Blakey Top and Malton, with the possibility of new services from Rosedale and a circular route from Guisborough and Helmsley. It’s estimated each visitor spends more than £26 each on fares, food and other goods in the park.

The new timetable runs from May 20 to September 30, details are at www.north-yorkshire-moors.org.uk