A DARWEN bus service has been reinstated following complaints from residents.

A number of people wrote to their councillor, Dave Smith, when the Sunnyhurst bus route and Birch Hall routes, run by Darwen Coach Services, were combined.

They said the extended journey was inconvenient and they believed there was a need to keep the Sunnyhurst route separate as it was well used.

After receiving letters from residents, it was decided to reinstate the bus service.

Coun Smith said: "I received quite a number of complaints when the two were combined because it was taking twice as long for people getting on the bus at Hindle Street to get into town because they were being taken all around Birch Hall, the Anchor Estate and through Hollins Grove along the way. It was taking about 20 minutes.

"The bus used to go up to Sunnyhurst and straight back down into town.

"The joint route was picking so many people up the buses were getting very full and the elderly people were having to stand up because there were no seats left.

"It was really good that Darwen Coach Services listened to the concerns of the people and I'd like to thank them for reinstating the bus route so that there are two separate routes again."