A BUS company has admitted it made an error when it re-routed a vital service away from town centre amenities.

First Bus introduced a number of changes to its services in July last year, including scrapping the daytime 571, 572 and circular services, which run between Bolton and Great Lever.

The buses were amalgamated with the 519 to form a new 520 service, extended to Johnson Fold, but missed out Bolton Railway Station and the Trinity Street and Blackhorse Street areas — which angered Great Lever residents who relied on public transport to shop at Morrisons and Sainsbury’s.

But following a vigorous campaign by the community, the return route via the important Bolton stops was brought back within two months.

Speaking at the first meeting of the Bus Forum in Bolton Library last week, commercial development manager for First UK Bus in Greater Manchester Dwayne Wells said the company had not realised how much of a negative impact the route change would have on passengers.

He said: "We got that wrong and we took steps to ensure we put it right.

"The fight back from customers showed we had made the wrong decision and so we came up with a new solution.

"We were quick to change the route back so there would not be a problem."

The changes were initially implemented to make the service more sustainable.

While the current service does take in the important Bolton stops, it has been combined with extension to Johnson Fold, meaning the loss of Great Lever's circular service.

Harper Green Councillor Susan Haworth took part in the campaign to reinstate the service alongside campaigners including Great Lever transport champion Preva Crossley .

She said residents would be pleased to hear First's admission of error but still felt hard done by as more affluent areas such as Harwood continue to enjoy a circular service.

"They do feel a sense of unfairness. This is an area where 33 per cent of residents do not have access to cars and rely on public transport," she added.

"I hope from the company take the experience and learn that a proper public consultation is needed to prevent something like this from happening again."