TRAFFIC congestion in Harrogate has prompted bus com-pany bosses to scrap services which were running through the centre of the town.

Routes from Knaresborough, through Starbeck and on to the west side of Harrogate were introduced by public demand seven months ago.

However, congestion - particularly during the evening rush hour - meant the services were either running late or not turning up at all.

As a result, Harrogate and District Travel has confirmed that, in future, services from both ends of the route will now terminate at Harrogate's bus station. Passengers will still have the option of catching another service from there.

"Each portion of the truncated service will still operate to the existing frequency and, hopefully, the punctuality will be improved," said a spokesman yesterday.

He added: "We also intend to introduce a revised cross-town transfer ticket so that passengers do not have to pay twice.