Vital bus services have been saved from the axe.

First Group put forward plans to chop Sunday services on three routes in the Clacton and Walton areas.

One of them was also to lose its later evening buses.

But now Essex County Council has stepped in with more than £46,000 to keep them in operation.

The move involves the 7/8a bus from Clacton going through Holland, Kirby and Frinton to Walton, the 10/11 bus from Clacton to Jaywick and the 17/18 bus from Clacton through Great Clacton and St Osyth to Point Clear.

Rodney Bass, Essex County Council's portfolio holder for transport, decided to come up with the money after considering the impact that the loss of the services would have on the community.

First Group will withdraw from February 1 and the county council has agreed to support replacement services on the routes.

Published Thursday January 8, 2004

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