A NORTH Yorkshire town's revamped bus station is to reopen to the public.

The station, in Knaresborough High Street will come back into use next Monday.

Site owner Harrogate and District Travel has secured a deal with the Leeds Federation Housing Association in which the rear portion of the former open bus station has been redeveloped for retail and housing uses.

Meanwhile, the High Street frontage has been reconstructed as a modern bus station, with improved waiting facilities, seating and cycle racks, together with security features including comprehensive lighting and CCTV monitoring.

Giles Fearnley, chairman of Harrogate and District Travel, said the firm was delighted with the reopening, less than a year after a similar event at Harrogate Bus Station.

"The old bus station in Knaresborough was little more than an open yard with no facilities to speak of for our customers.

"We were determined to change that, and although this has meant causing inconvenience in the short term by putting our buses on to temporary High Street stops, we are pleased with the end result of our collaboration with the Leeds Federation Housing Association.

"The new Knaresborough Bus Station provides exactly the greatly-enhanced facilities which our customers deserve, and we hope shortly to provide further benefits by installing real time passenger information displays within the station, through our partnership with North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council."

Updated: 10:41 Monday, June 09, 2003