ELDERLY residents could soon have their bus back in Ramsbottom after a council decision has ensured parking problems on the route will be a thing of the past.

The handy-rider bus was provided by Rossendale Transport until 18 months ago when it was suspended because of difficulties with parked cars on the narrow roads around Carr Road, Tanners Street, Rawstrons Rake and Dundee Lane.

But now Bury Council's highways and transportation committee has agreed to introduce parking restrictions on sections of the route, which will be enforced between 9.30am and 4.30pm on weekdays.

Ramsbottom Coun Dorothy Gunther said: "Some people in the area may not be pleased about the restrictions but they will only be in operation during the day and not at evenings or weekends.

"The young, old disabled and able do have to live together and need to co-operate with each other so that we can have the best of both worlds.

"The quality of life will improve for the elderly people in that area."

Rossendale Transport, who provided the bus with a subsidy from the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, was not able to say when it may be able to reinstate the service.