SO few passengers are using a village bus service that it is costing £21 to transport each traveller on a five-mile journey.

But in a bid to keep its present services, a parish council has launched a campaign to halt plans to severely cut back the lifeline between Melmerby and Ripon.

As only a handful of people are using the services North Yorkshire County Council wants to restrict buses to Mondays and Thursdays, rather than from Monday to Friday.

One of the leading campaigners is Margaret Law, of Melmerby and Middleton Quernhow Parish Council.

She told a North Yorkshire County Council area committee meeting: "We have no post office, no village shop and no amenities in the village."

She accepted few people used the buses, but said that those who did were totally dependent on it as they did not have cars or access to them.

However, Coun Law suggested that the growing number of workers at nearby industrial estates could be provided with a service which might also link with village needs.

North Yorkshire transport chief Mike Moore agreed it was a dilemma for the village, but pointed out passengers had not risen over recent years, resulting in the £21 subsidy for every passenger.

But county councillor John Fort said that because of changed circumstances involving the industrial estates he felt there should be further investigation.