RURAL bus cuts to Grassington are going to exacerbate existing staffing problems according to the village's Chamber of Trade.

Chamber chairman Rosemary Biggin told the Herald that local businesses already had problems finding staff and this would just add to them.

Six services have been withdrawn - the 6.50am Grassington-Ilkley bus, the 7.35am Ilkley-Grassington bus, the 7pm and 8pm Grassington-Skipton buses and the 7.30pm and 8.30pm Skipton-Grassington buses.

Also two buses have been cut on Fridays - they are the 10.50pm Grassington-Skipton service and the 11.15pm Skipton-Grassington service.

"It's absolutely ridiculous," said Mrs Biggin. "People are going to be stranded in Skipton with no way of getting home to Grassington by public transport."

North Yorkshire County Council made the announcement about the cuts at the end of last month and they came into effect on September 5.

The services are run by Grassington-based Pride of the Dales on behalf of the county council and the reasons given for the cuts include the recent increases in fuel costs and exceptional operational difficulties.

A spokesman for the Yorkshire Dales Public Transport Users Group said: "We are very disappointed at the scale of the cuts being made.

"The bus services in Wharfedale have been improved significantly in recent years with the introduction of modern low floor buses and it's a great shame that the entire evening service is now being withdrawn at such short notice."

However, he added that the group did understand the challenges faced by North Yorkshire County Council in trying to maintain high quality bus services in rural area with a limited budget.

"We will be asking them to reconsider this decision and to urgently investigate whether a more limited evening service than previously operated can be provided for the benefit of local residents and visitors to the area.

"This would allow visitors to enjoy an early evening meal in the Dales before returning home," he added.

Skipton Town Council has been notified of the changes and members resolved at their recent environment and planning committee to write a letter to the county council expressing regret at the loss of the services and the effect it would have on the rural community.

Richard Owen, North Yorkshire's passenger transport manager, said: "Increasing costs and problems with the operator being able to sustain the service have led to us having to make this decision.

"We've tried to take out the least used services so that it creates as little disruption as possible," he added.

Mr Owen said they would try to ensure that key connections with rail services were met. "I am sure we can negotiate on this issue," he added.