Villagers look like they will be losing their main bus service in just over a fortnight, despite a deluge of complaints to the bus company.

An overhaul of the public transport system between Wharfedale and Leeds means that Pool residents look set to lose their X85 and 85 services.

Residents are up in arms over proposals by First, the company which runs Leeds buses, to cut the services at the end of April.

The service runs from Ilkley to Leeds via Pool and unless another source of money is made available, it will be axed on Sunday, April 27.

The cutting of the service would see the X84 from Ilkley to Leeds running every 20 minutes - but it will not go via Pool.

Pool residents would have to rely on the W9 service if they want to travel to Otley or the 757 Airlink from the airport to Leeds Bus Station.

Only the Rural Bus Challenge or a subsidy from Metro could save the X85 service.

A Metro spokesman said: "Metro is concerned that First has taken the decision to cut these services."

He added that Metro had listened to customer comments and the company would look into whether it would be able to help save the service.

But First has defended the decision.

A spokesman said: "It is a commercial operation and we have to find the money. We have applied to the Private Transport Executive. We are legally bound to make every route work and the situation is that these ones are not viable. We have done our research on this and we do not just take a service off like that. The revenue through Metro cards and the revenue from the bus does not match outgoings.

"We have listened to customer comments and we have sent people out to places like Pool to revisit and recheck on how the service is and it is not viable so it will be stopping."

Under the shake-up, buses 732, 733, 736 and W33 will be combined and renumbered 33, 33A, W8 and W6. Number 33 will run every 20 minutes from Leeds to Guiseley and to Menston Railway Station and on evenings and weekends will continue to Ilkley. The 33A will run from Leeds to Yeadon, Guiseley and Otley and the two services will ensure there is a bus every ten minutes along the A65 between Leeds and Rawdon.

The W8 will be an hourly service between Yeadon Westfield, Guiseley and Ilkley, the W33 linking Westfield, Yeadon and Guiseley will be renumbered the W6 and the section between Guiseley and Otley will be withdrawn.