A PIONEERING crowdfunded bus service run by Keighley operator Transdev is taking to the Yorkshire Dales.

Weekly trips are being staged throughout the school summer holidays.

And the initiative is already proving popular.

The first excursion, to Malham on Tuesday (July 25), sold out well in advance.

In partnership with DalesBus, Transdev's VAMOOZ service is running the trips every Tuesday from Keighley, as well as from Bradford and Shipley.

Destinations will include Bolton Abbey, the Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival and Kilnsey Show, plus there'll be more visits to Malham.

Seats on the VAMOOZ Dales Experience routes must be booked in advance – via a free app – and are offered on a first-come first-served basis.

Bookings can also be made in person in Bradford, at Girlington and Grange community centres.

All first-time riders benefit from a £5 discount off their initial booking.

VAMOOZ manager, Rebecca Reeve-Burnett, said: "We're delighted to be able to offer these weekly Dales Experience trips so people can enjoy magnificent Yorkshire Dales scenery and exciting events.

"After a simple and highly-secure sign-up via our app, with contact and payment details, the fare is only charged on the day of the trip – and like all our VAMOOZ trips, the more people who travel, the cheaper the journey becomes for everyone.

"Seats for our next Dales Experience trip, to Bolton Abbey on August 1, are on sale now. It promises to be a great family day, maybe enjoying a stroll through the woods to the impressive Strid rapids, or the Welly Walk Adventure Trail which is just perfect for children."

Paul Chattwood, for DalesBus, said it was delighted to be involved in the venture.

He added: "Many of our VAMOOZ Dales Experience trips this summer will take people to join in an exciting range of free activities and guided walks laid on by our friends at the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the National Trust.

"There's so much to see and do, ideal to keep the kids entertained throughout the summer holidays.

"We're grateful for support from Family Channel Limited, the Girlington and Grange community centres and myLahore, which has enabled us to provide these trips at even-more affordable prices."

For further details, download the free VAMOOZ app from the Apple app store or Google Play or visit dalesbus.org/experience.