VISITORS and locals in the North York Moors will find that getting around without a car this year is easier than ever before.

The North York Moors National Park has just released new timetables for the Moorsbus Network, which come into operation on Sunday, showing more routes and greater choice.

Bill Breakell, the national park's tourism and transport officer, said: "For many years, our aim has been to offer a reliable, inexpensive and environmentally-friendly way of getting to and through the park.

"This year, we are improving connections, putting on additional services and increasing the number of places served".

Originally developed in the Eighties, Moorsbus has progressively increased the area it covers so that it now enables visitors to get to the Moors from places such as Hull and Hartlepool, Richmond and Redcar.

New arrangements this year include partnerships with York Country Buses for additional services between York and the Moors, and the Yorkshire Coastliner.

This means that people buying a special Coastliner ticket will also have the freedom of the Moorsbus Network, and Moorsbus passengers will have additional destinations, such as Goathland and Whitby.

The new timetable lists more than 150 places which are now served by the network, including frequent services from key park and ride sites, such as Thornton le Dale and Sutton Bank.

Timetables are available at many information centres in the region, by calling 01845 597426, or on-line at www.moorsbus.net.