A bus link between Otley and Bradford has been saved thanks to a new company taking it over.

The move by Bradford’s TLC Travel Ltd means both ‘halves’ of the 653 service, which operator First announced in May it would be stopping, will now continue from July 19.

The TLC Travel service will consist of a low-floor minibus running between Bradford and Otley every 75 minutes.

The news follows an announcement by Harrogate Coach Services in June that it would be taking over the Otley to Harrogate section of the 653’s route.

The West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority (Metro), which has been highly critical of First’s wide-ranging package of cuts, said it was delighted with the outcome.

Metro chairman Coun Ryk Downes (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon) said: “It will be two operators who are running it rather than one now – one from Bradford and the other from Harrogate – but effectively it is the whole 653 service that is being replaced. The thing is that First is the major operator in Leeds and there aren’t many others in the area so I am very pleased that we were able to find two companies that wanted to step in and take this on.

“The frustration is that First left us in the lurch but thankfully we have been able to replace the services without any additional cost to the taxpayers.

“These are two entreprenuerial, smaller operators who say they are quite happy to run these services as commercial businesses – something First said it was not viable for it to do.

“It would appear First is cherry-picking the services it wishes to run which, as a private company, it is, of course, perfectly entitled to do.”

Metro deputy chairman Coun Chris Greaves (Con, Wharfedale) said: “This is absolutely brilliant news. It means passengers will be able to still travel between Bradford and Harrogate, although they will need to change if they’re going the whole way. Again, this just shows that other operators are seeing opportunities and I’m hoping it might be the start of something big, where we see a large variety of operators which is what is needed. I would encourage people to use it.”

Otley Town Council leader, Coun Jim Spencer, said he was delighted both parts of the 653 ‘link’ – the service also calls at Guiseley and Menston on the Bradford side and Pool-in-Wharfedale on the Harrogate side – were now saved.

He said: “It’s fantastic news. We’ve got the whole service back really and I’m very pleased.

“In Otley we’re equi-distant from the middle of Leeds and the middle of Bradford, and Bradford is a major city with a lot of jobs there.

“This means people who work there will at least have the chance to get there by public transport, which is what we’re all trying to do, to reduce our carbon footprint.

“Things weren’t looking too good a few months ago but this is much better. I would hope the service is well used.”