OTLEY travelled back in time last weekend as vintage buses carried passengers to their destinations.

Classic vehicles were in operation at Stand 5 of Otley Bus Station from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, October 15 as part of the Samuel Ledgard Society's 50th anniversary celebrations.

It has been half a century this month since Samuel Ledgard buses stopped running following the business's takeover by the West Yorkshire Road Car Company.

The Society organised a weekend of activities to mark the occasion, with Pudsey being the focal point on Saturday and Otley the hub for Sunday's events.

As well as offering free, local rides on classic buses the day included a display of vintage vehicles in the North Parade car park.

Former members of staff and passengers attended and were joined by special guests including Otley Mayor Nigel Francis and Samuel Ledgard's granddaughter and great-granddaughter, Jenny and Lucie Barron.

Samuel Ledgard Society Chair Barry Rennison said: "It was a hectic weekend which took almost two years to plan and we were fortunate to enjoy great weather for both days.

"On Sunday we managed to snarl-up the usual Otley traffic even worse with many visitors and our vintage buses pounding the town centre on four former Ledgard routes, departing from the bus station on timetabled runs.

"Buses were full to capacity and some departures required duplicates!

"It was good to see children with their parents enjoying the day, riding on elderly vehicles.

"One double decker in full Ledgard livery was owned by father and son David and Ewen Pring, who travelled up from St Albans to join in the commemoration.

"And a former Ledgard coach which took seventeen years to preserve was also on display, and you would have thought it had just been on delivery from the coach- builders!"

The weekend was rounded off at the Rose and Crown pub, in Otley, on Sunday evening when the society's committee plus more than 40 members enjoyed refreshments and a buffet.

Mr Rennison added: "Another star of the show was a First bus which proudly carries the fleet name of Samuel Ledgard.

"Look out for this on the X84 service from Leeds and Skipton - inside on the staircase is a montage featuring photos of the man himself, aged 24 and in his seventies, and his first charabanc which he bought new in 1912.

"The committee is grateful to Leeds City Council and Otley Town Council for allowing the use of part of the North Parade car park for the bus display, and to First for permission to use departures of the free service from outside the bus station.

"We are also grateful to the local bus museums, transport groups and private owners who graciously provided their vehicles for the public to sample nostalgic rides on their pride and joys.

"And despite it being fifty years since Ledgard’s finished operating, the society recruited six new members during the weekend!"

The Samuel Ledgard bus company came to be highly regarded by passengers following its formation, in 1912.

It was established by innkeeper Samuel Ledgard after he had started a haulage operation and noticed other firms were turning their lorries into basic 'buses' at the weekends to to offer people trips.

After buying his first charabanc his travel business grew rapidly and in 1924 the company's distinctive blue and grey coloured buses, which went on to serve routes across Wharfedale, Aireborough and Horsforth, first appeared.

Mr Ledgard died in 1952, aged 77, passing the running of the business on to his son, Tom.

By the time of its takeover in 1967 the Samuel Ledgard fleet comprised some 112 vehicles.