THOUSANDS of residents in Ryedale villages are set for a better public transport deal thanks to a £750,000 Government package.

At present, sparse services leave people unable to take up employment and training opportunities, and youngsters unable to take part in extracurricular school activities.

Where there are bus services, fares are high, and those with cars are facing rocketing fuel costs, experts say.

Now the Ryedale and North East Yorkshire Rural Transport Partnership has unveiled an action plan to crack the problem - and has gained Government grants of £250,000 a year over the next three years to put its ideas into practice.

The partnership of local authorities, Yorkshire Rural Community Council, the Countryside Agency, North Yorkshire Health Authority and volunteer groups wants a big shake-up and investigation into public transport in scores of remote villages in its massive 232,000-hectare area.

Peter Oxley, senior officer for the partnership, said transport forums would look at remote parishes in the Yorkshire Wolds and Southern Ryedale, the Esk Valley, Howardian Hills and Central Ryedale, North Yorkshire Moors and Northern Ryedale and the Scarborough rural area.

Parish-based local transport representatives would also be recruited to provide better information to residents.

There would be multi-agency, co-ordinated marketing of existing public transport services, and little used footpaths on roads like the A64 between Scarborough and York and the A170 in the Vale of Pickering could be used for young cyclists.

"Dual designation of little-used footways in rural areas would create a safe cycling environment," added Mr Oxley.

A recent survey of 800 people in Ryedale revealed 18.6 per cent of people felt that a punctual, regular and integrated transport system would make it a better place to live.

Mr Oxley said barriers to public transport usage were high cost, lack of information, lack or infrequency of services, complicated timetables and a negative image of public transport - especially among young people.

The aim of the new strategy was to pinpoint unmet transport needs in rural communities, develop new transport projects to combat social exclusion, and to step up the awareness of services.

A recent survey at Lady Lumley's School in Pickering showed transport was the biggest single concern to young people, who were unable to take part in leisure and recreational activities because of it.

Late evening transport was almost non-existent, even on the main roads.

The partnership is also setting up a 12-strong steering group to seek additional funding from the Countryside Agency, which has been allocated £4.2 million by the Government to solve rural transport problems.