RURAL communities are suffering due to poor transport links to vital public services, according to a new report.

Research by campaign group Rural England found that only 56 per cent of rural households have "reasonable access" to a GP surgery by public transport or walking.

The study also found that young people in further education who live in rural areas spend longer travelling to colleges and pay more to do so than their urban counterparts.

Only half of those in rural communities can get to a further education institution by public transport or walking in a "reasonable travel time", the report noted.

Chair of Rural England's stakeholder group Margaret Clark said the study included "worrying findings across transport, education, social care and retail".

She added: "Whilst public health services are stretched across the whole country, rural areas are suffering due to difficulties and poor transport services."

Many North Yorkshire residents faced losing their bus service after North Yorkshire County Council announced it was axing some subsidised routes to shave £500,000 from its budget.

The 74 Northallerton town service and the 31 Richmond town service which were provided by Dales and District looked to be under threat before the council announced last March to keep buses running by using its own fleet of minibuses crewed by council staff.

Other rural areas across North Yorkshire and the North-East have also faced losing their bus services, with some communities, such as Sadberge near Darlington, turning to community-led services instead of relying on the council or commercial bus operators.