A BUS company is recruiting more drivers in a bid to improve a Wharfedale to Leeds service.

First Bus apologised to an Otley passenger, Lesley Woledge, at the beginning of this year over a cancelled X84 bus she had been waiting for.

Mrs Woledge, along with her daughter and grandchildren, ended up having to rely on a lift from a friend to get to the pre-Christmas show at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds.

Now another Otley resident, Anne Tallontire, has called First Bus to task over what she calls 'the deteriorating service provided by the X84', which also serves Bramhope and Ilkley.

Dr Tallontire lodged an official complaint with the company just before Christmas in which she says: "Ironically, the distinct decline in service has been around the time of the launch of the new 'luxury' buses on this route, as described in your press release of December 15.

"Repeatedly, especially in the evening commuter period, X84 services from Leeds to Otley and Ilkley have been cancelled."

She goes on to list examples that she experienced, and documented in text or tweets to family and friends, between November and December 19 last year.

They include eight Leeds to Otley services that were cancelled, along with one Otley to Leeds bus that was cancelled plus three that were delayed by 20 minutes or more.

Dr Tallontire concludes her letter by stating: "This is sometimes explained by the Twitter information service to be on account of traffic congestion, meaning drivers have exceeded their maximum legal driving times and must take a break.

"I understand that the labour rights of drivers must be respected - however congestion in the city centre is a daily occurrence so I would expect your company to have backup plans to ensure continuity of service."

In a lengthy response, First Bus have apologised for the problems and are vowing to take several steps to remedy them.

It its letter to Dr Tallontire the company says: "I am sorry you've had to contact us and for the inconvenience you have suffered as a result of services failing to operate as advertised.

"Unfortunately we have experienced large-scale congestion which has affected the punctuality of some of our services.

"Because some of our buses are taking longer to reach their destinations most of our drivers are out on the road.

"When one of our drivers reports to us that they are unwell and cannot attend work, we have fewer options available to us than we had previously - this has led to some cancellations."

It goes on to stress that is is continuously working with councils to improve traffic flow, concluding: "Furthermore...there is a major recruiting campaign ongoing and we have a full training school and a pipeline of people awaiting starting with us."