PASSENGERS are delighted after the X53 coastal bus Sunday service was saved until the end of the year.

The vehicle was due to stop on Sundays on November 4 after Dorset County Council couldn’t find funding. But now the authority has found about £8,000 to keep it going until the end of 2012.

Delighted Bride Valley county councillor Ron Coatsworth said: “It is important as people can become isolated in villages.”

The X53 runs along the Dorset coast and into Devon. It includes stops in Weymouth, Chickerell, Portesham, Abbotsbury, Burton Bradstock, West Bay, Bridport, Chideock, Morcombelake, Charmouth and Lyme Regis.

Coun Coatsworth and Burton Bradstock district councillor John Russell were among those to raise the issue at a county council environment overview committee meeting. Coun Coatsworth said that he hoped another £10,000 could be found at County Hall to ensure the service resumes to cover January, February and March as well.

He said: “It will be discussed at the next cabinet meeting. I am optimistic. The case has been made.”

He added that people should make sure they use the bus if they can to ensure that it keeps going.

Barbara James, of Burton Bradstock, also spoke at the meeting and said: “It’s fantastic. The service is important, especially as we have the Jurassic Coast.”

The county council’s proposals to halt its funding for the Sunday service sparked out an outcry.

Members of Bridport Town Council protested against the move. The Western Area Transport Action Group (WATAG) was also concerned.

Alan Williams of WATAG urged people to get new timetables as some times had changed on the X53 and the 31. They included some services leaving earlier, including the 7.20am service from Weymouth geting into West Bay and Burton Bradstock four minutes earlier.

There are also changes to the early X53 service leaving Lyme Regis at 6.26am instead of 6.39am.

l What do you think? Write to Postbag, Bridport News, 67 East Street, Bridport, DT6 3LB or email postbag@bridportnews.co.uk.