BUS passengers worried about the loss of a service that was due to be axed can breathe a sigh of relief, after it was announced that another operator will take over the route.

The daytime hourly 527 circular service, which runs through Bolton, Tonge, Hall I’th’ Wood, Astley Bridge, Smithills and Halliwell, will be withdrawn by Cumfy Bus on October 29.

However, Transport for Greater Manchester has now revealed that another operator will be providing a replacement service from the following day.

However, due to commercial sensitivity, further details of the new service have not been revealed.

Cllr Sue Haworth, who is a member of the Bolton Bus Users Forum, was concerned about the potential loss of the 527 service.

She said: “I think it looked as if Hall I’th’ Wood and a stretch of Crompton Way stood out as a part of town that would be badly affected by the loss of this service.

“It is reliant on the 525 and the 527. It is important that we wait and see what regular users and the residents in the area have to say.

“Everybody who uses those two services thinks of them as a dual service, so it seemed unusual to me that one of them would be withdrawn.”