Railway carriages essential to ease overcrowding on peak-time commuter trains are to stay on services in the district.

Passengers were worried to learn last year that the Class 333 electric trains running through Wharfedale and Airedale could lose their fourth carriage as a Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) grant to hire rolling stock dried up.

The modern trains replaced ageing slam-door rolling stock several years ago, providing relief from overcrowding on the packed morning and evening commuter services connecting Ilkley and Skipton with Leeds and Bradford.

But rail campaigners feared the loss of a total of eight carriages loaned under the funding could see a return to overcrowded trains.

Now rail bosses have confirmed that a new deal is in place to keep the carriages running on the Wharfedale Line and Airedale Line.

Councillors and MPs took up the issue with West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, Metro, train operator Northern Rail and the Government.

Passenger watchdog Wharfedale Rail Users' Group (WRUG) welcomed the news that the carriages are to stay.

Chairman Tom Wesley said: "Of course we're delighted but it's a bittersweet delight, in that it would have been unthinkable given the state of overcrowding on the Wharfedale and Airedale lines that anybody should have thought of taking them away."

Aireborough MP Paul Truswell said: "Everyone concerned was determined to retain the carriages, but it took some detailed negotiations to get the result we needed."

He said the next challenge will be to obtain further rolling stock for local lines, and said there was a desperate need for other facilities including a car park to serve Guiseley Station and reduce parking pressures on the surrounding communities.