THE volunteer run Western Dales Bus will expand its current timetable from Friday.

The weekly S4 service from Sedbergh to Kirkby Stephen, via Ravenstonedale, will offer two return trips in the opposite direction and, for the first time in a long while, the residents of Kirkby Stephen will be able to enjoy a short visit to Sedbergh by bus.

The service will also connect with trains on the Settle-Carlisle railway.

The S3 market-day service from Sedbergh to Hawes has also be improved to allow greater flexibility of journeys.

The Western Dales Bus is an entirely volunteer-run operation having a pool of 12 drivers who commit their free-time to serving the locality.

The organisation was recently successful in applying for lottery funding to assist in purchasing a new vehicle as well as operating bus services in the area where subsidy has been withdrawn or where routes are commercially unviable to normal operators.

In addition, the group currently operates its primary Saturday route between Dent Station, Sedbergh and Kendal.

Full timetables for all of the additional services can be found on the company’s website at www.westerndalesbus.co.uk.