BRADSHAW residents can now use a new door-to-door transport service, following the loss of a "vital bus service".

The East Bolton Local Link has been extended to serve residents on Bradshaw Road, with its limit as Ramsbottom Road.

The service was introduced yesterday �— on the the same day that Rossendale Transport withdraw the majority of 273 services, which would link Ramsbottom and Bolton via Bradshaw Road.

Bradshaw councillor and member of the Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM) committee Cllr Stuart Haslam said he would continue to fight to keep the 273, and plans to meet Rossendale Transport next week.

He said: “I am naturally pleased that the east Bolton local link has been extended up the Bradshaw road, as far the India Gate crossroads.

“This will at least provide some service for the residents who will be badly affected by the loss of 273 bus service.

“I would like to emphasise that the Local Link is available for all residents to use, and is not restricted to the elderly or the disabled. It provides a very useful service.

“However, I am still pursuing various avenues to try and see whether there are any ways a bus service can be provided along Bradshaw Road to Hawkshaw and Ramsbottom, as the loss of this service will undoubtedly result in much hardship.

“I have managed to arrange a face-to-face meeting with Rossendale buses next Friday when I shall stress the importance and the necessity of the 273.”

The door-to-door East Bolton Local Link runs daily from 6am to 10pm, and can be booked up to a week in advance.

Passengers can travel anywhere in the East Bolton service area, including to Bolton Interchange, the Royal Bolton Hospital and Bolton Community College.

TfGM Head of Bus, Howard Hartley said: “Local Link is an affordable, easy way to get around and there are no age or disability restrictions so anyone can use it.

“You just book your journey up to an hour before you want to travel to get picked up or dropped off at home or anywhere in the service area.

“You can also use Local Link to join up with other bus services running from the town centre interchange, making it possible to travel further afield.”

More information is available at www.tfgm.com/locallink or by calling the operator on either 01204 364 566 (6am-10pm) and asking for East Bolton Local Link. Fully accessible vehicles are available on demand.

East Bolton Local Link already runs to Back o’ th’ Bank, Breightmet, Darcy Lever, Hall i’ th’ Wood, Mill Hill, Rose Hill, Tonge Moor and Top o’ th’ Brow.

The 273 bus will still run between Monday and Saturday from Bolton at 5.18pm and 6.18pm and from Rawtenstall at 7.15am on weekdays and 8.15am on Saturdays.