A RURAL bus service under threat due to finance cutbacks is to keep running thanks to North Yorkshire County Council.

After a review of its timetable Arriva North East planned to cut its Service 34 which runs between Darlington and Richmond.

The service was under threat as Arriva did not think it was financially viable to keep it running.

North Yorkshire County Council has intervened to put together a short-term funding package to keep it running.

The service is used by passengers at Darlington, Middleton Tyas, Scorton, Moulton and Richmond.

The short-term deal will cover the running of the service until the end of July.

A major consultation is now being held to decide how best to ensure the long term viability of the service.

The county councillors who represent areas most affected are gathering evidence to support keeping the service.

Councillors are to meet the county council's business and environmental services directorate to discuss options next week.

They will then begin a series of meetings with parish councils in the area.

Councillor Clare Wood, executive member for business and environmental services, said the service was needed.

She said: "We recognise that public transport is an essential lifeline in rural villages.

"It was essential that we took action to maintain a bus service to those communities, while we set about identifiying longer term, more cost-effective solut