THE North Yorkshire Discovery bus - equipped with eight computers and BBC broadcasting equipment - will be visiting a number of villages in the North York Moors National Park this week.

The aim of the computer bus is to provide the public in rural communities with the opportunity to access the Internet for free.

The trips to Cropton, Swainby and Levisham will all have an archaeological focus, as each village has strong links with the past.

Guides from the North York Moors National Park Authority will be on hand to talk to the public on walks around local sites, or visitors can just hop on the bus and play with the computers.

The Discovery bus is a joint project between the BBC and North Yorkshire County Council. The council has provided tutors, who will demonstrate the wealth of archaeological information available on BBCi, called Journey into Archaeology.

English Heritage has also become involved with the activities, providing information from their research into and survey of local sites.

BBC learning link advisor Claire Brewis said: "Archaeology is becoming more popular and recent TV programmes, such as Meet the Ancestors, have helped to generate interest in the subject and encouraged people to take that interest further.

"It's great to be able to take the bus out and about and offer people the chance to learn more about their local history over the Internet.

"With the tutors and experts we have available, everyone should be able to learn something that they didn't already know."

The bus will be at the New Inn, Cropton, tomorrow, the Black Horse, Swainby, on Thursday, and the Horseshoe Inn, Levisham, on Friday.