TEENAGERS in Ryedale have won a cut in bus fares thanks to a campaign by Pickering Youth Council.

Scarborough and District Buses, which operates the 128 service between the resort and Helmsley, is reducing the cost of its evening fares.

A spokesman said that after 7pm, young people aged 18 and under will only need to pay £1 a journey on the service. “And after 7pm, adults will never pay more than £4 for a single ticket on any of the company’s buses.”

Tom Wrench, chairman of the youth council, said the campaign had resulted from a similar scheme in the western area of North Yorkshire.

“We started our talks with the bus company last year after the North Yorkshire Youth Council had achieved success with a company elsewhere in the county.

“Cutting the price of fares will make an enormous difference to many young people.

“What we now need is for them to use the service to persuade Scarborough and District of the value of rural bus services,” said 17-year-old Tom, a student at Lady Lumley’s School, Pickering.

The eight-member youth council was set up in 2010 and since then has run an art exhibition at Pickering Memorial Hall and a talent show in the town.

“We feel we have a big role to play in Pickering, helping to improve the quality of life for all residents,” said Tom. “We would welcome more members to join the council.”

One of the council’s biggest successes was organising events for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee last summer.

Pickering’s mayor, Coun William Oxley, said: “The youth council has gone from strength to strength.

“It has proved to be a real asset and we warmly welcome the enthusiasm of the young people and their ideas. It all adds to making Pickering a great place in which people live, work, and play and which makes it so attractive a destination.”