YORK residents as well as visitors to the city can now get to North Yorkshire's national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty without the need for a car.

Every Sunday until the end of October there are five morning bus departures giving people the choice of visiting the North York Moors or Yorkshire Dales National Parks, or the Howardian Hills or Nidderdale Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Leaving from York Railway Station between 9.15am and 10.15am, the buses make it easier than ever before to enjoy all that Yorkshire's finest countryside has to offer, including castles, abbeys, museums, as well as pubs, cafes and tea rooms.

Passengers on bus services to the North York Moors are also being offered ideas for walking in the light of foot and mouth.

Bill Breakell, tourism and transport officer for the North York Moors, said: "We have produced a list of walks which have been re-opened following careful risk assessment.

"Information on the walks will be available for all passengers as they leave the buses at Helmsley on Sunday."

The Moorsbus Network services give access to most of the North York Moors, including Helmsley, Hutton-le-Hole, Sutton Bank, Danby, Thornton-le-Dale and Dalby Forest, thanks to an all-day ticket and a comprehensive network of routes.

Buses to the Dales serve Grassington, Bolton Abbey, Skipton, Pateley Bridge, Lightwater Valley and Fountains Abbey.

Leaflets on the new services are available at tourist information centres at the De Grey Rooms and the railway station, in York, as well as the bus office in George Hudson Street. Details are also on the Internet at www.moorsbus.net

Updated: 10:24 Saturday, June 09, 2001