COCKERMOUTH'S mayor has stepped in to ensure residents affected by the six-week closure of a main road in Cockermouth will not be left stranded.

Bridge repairs on Gote Bridge started on Monday. There will be no bridge access for vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists and detours will be in place.

Councillor Julie Laidlow has organised for a twice-weekly free bus to start on Monday. She said the eight-seater vehicle is for residents without cars who rely on taxis.

Ellenvale Coaches will run the services on Mondays and Thursdays.

Councillor Laidlow will be using her mayoral funds to pay for the service. She was pleased to get a contribution from town businessman Bob Slack.

The bus will set off from Wakefield Road at 10.30am and head along Main Street to the community hospital. It will leave the hospital at 1.30pm.

"A lot of people can drive around or walk over the footbridge, this is for people who rely on taxis which will be much more expensive because of the detour," said Councillor Laidlow.

"I wanted to do it because these people voted for me and I would not like to be isolated on that side of the river.

"I'm hoping that the community hospital will be flexible and able to arrange appointments within these times."