LANCASHIRE County Council has found the cash to maintain bus services to several Ribble Valley villages .

It stepped in after operator Stagecoach said it was scrapping its Service 4 from Preston to Longridge via Fulwood and Whittingham after November 3..

Yesterday county council transport lead member Cllr Andrew Snowden announced that from November 4 Rotala Preston Bus will operate the new services.

There will be changes to some of the routes.

The current Service 35 from Longridge to Blackburn via Ribchester will be withdrawn and incorporated within a new Service 45.

The revised Service 45 will run from Preston to Blackburn via Broughton, Longridge, and Ribchester. It will pass Preston College, also serving Royal Preston Hospital, Broughton, Goosnargh, Whittingham, Longridge, Ribchester, Salesbury and Wilpshire. It will operate every hour Monday to Saturday in the daytime.

Minor changes will be made to the timetables of the Services 3, 5, 25, and 25A. The introduction of a new Service 25A will restore a link to Mellor Brook.

Cllr Snowden said: “Our options are often limited when commercial operators pull out, but I’m very pleased that in this instance we’ve been in a position to help. "