BUS operator Lancashire United has announced changes to its Ribble Valley express service, Route X1/X2, which will restore a direct link between Clitheroe and Manchester to run seven days a week.

The changes will come into force from Sunday, January 25.

Minor changes are also being made to Route 225 between Clitheroe, Blackburn and Bolton.

The firm's commercial director Duncan Allan said: "We regularly review all our services, both operationally and following feedback from our customers. This has highlighted demand for the restoration of the Monday to Saturday direct buses from Clitheroe to Manchester.

"This follows tremendous growth on Route X1/ X2 since we started operating it in June 2002, as more and more people switch to using the bus instead of their cars and take advantage of free parking in Manchester by using public transport instead."

He added: "We are also pleased to be able to provide a new local link in Blackburn which will create new journey opportunities to and from Emerald Avenue in Roe Lee on weekday evenings and throughout Sundays, to restore links previously withdrawn by Blackburn Transport.

"This diversion is being introduced initially on a trial basis and demand will be monitored."

Under changes to the X1/X2 services, most Monday to Saturday X1 journeys are being extended to and from Clitheroe, with times between Whalley and Manchester remaining largely unchanged.

An additional X1 stop is introduced at Holland Pies in Baxenden, and Route X1 will now serve all stops between Queen Street, Great Harwood and Clitheroe.

On Sundays, Route X2 is revised to operate more frequently between Accrington and Manchester.

On Route 225, which serves Clitheroe, Whalley, Blackburn, Darwen and Bolton, schoolday journeys at 7.40am from Blackburn to Clitheroe and 4.10pm from Clitheroe to Blackburn are being retimed and revised to run via the normal 225 route.