Cuts to Cumbria County Council’s budget led to a review of its rural bus service in March.

The authority said it could no longer afford to subsidise all buses in the county and drew up a list of those it said had become unviable.

Among them was the Saturday Dent to Kendal service.

When Dent Parish Council became aware, they requested an urgent meeting with Cumbria County Council.

Dent Parish Council chairman, Jock Cairns, was told that if they could raise enough money, the county council would continue the route.

As the town is only served by a Wednesday and Saturday service, losing the weekend bus would mean a 50 per cent cut in local transport.

With a starting fund of £500 out of parish council coffers, Mr Cairns approached local organisations in the hope they would recognise the value of the service and pledge money to help save it.

“The feeling in the village was that we didn’t want to lose it because it’s a vital service that helps the community survive – there was strong feeling about running it,” said Mr Cairns.

Friends of Settle to Carlisle Railway stumped up £1,500 immediately. Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority offered £1,000.

More offers followed from the organisers of the Dentdale Show and Sedbergh Parish Council – where the bus makes a stop.

One month on, the council has secured £4,500, meaning townsfolk and tourists will be able to travel to and from Kendal by bus until at least October 15.

It will continue to run on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

But, remarkably, the money raised will allow an additional service to be introduced.

The third bus will tie in with the train timetable so visitors who flock to the town in summer will be able to make the most of the area.

“Last summer, the bus was so full that it couldn’t pick up people who were waiting in Dent,” said Mr Cairns.

“It’s well-used by walkers from the train station and by people all along the route going into Kendal.”

Peter Rushton, committee member of both the Dentdale Show and Dent Music and Beer Festival, said: “For some local residents, particularly teenagers, it’s the only way of travelling out of the village.”

The parish council is now looking for funding to ensure the bus carries on beyond October.

Mr Cairns has urged villagers to use the service to make it sustainable.