TWO withdrawn Diamond Bus services have been saved and will be reinstated next week.

The Shuttle reported last week how the 303 Kidderminster to Worcester bus had been suspended after operators Diamond Bus said it had been running at a financial loss for a year.

The decision raised concerns from the local community as the route is well-used by people visiting Worcestershire Royal Hospital, and by students attending college in the city.

Worcestershire County Council has now confirmed that the 303 and 302 services will be back on the roads from Monday, June 8, after the council's Highways department stepped in to subsidise the routes.

Councillor Alan Amos said: "We have been working very hard to reprieve these services.

"I know they provide a vital link between Worcester and Kidderminster as well as serve a large number of smaller towns and villages. Students from the Sixth Form College and local and elderly people in particular depend on them to get about.

"So, we have allocated funds to subsidise the routes and Diamond Bus will be reinstating them from Monday, June 8.

"We will continue to monitor the services over the next few months, looking at passenger numbers and the potential effect of social distancing on the situation.

"We will be working with the bus operator to establish a longer-term solution for these services.

"This is a good example of our new Passenger Transport Strategy in which the county council is looking to provide a wide and reliable bus network throughout the county to meet the various needs of its residents and businesses.

"Despite the temporary problems following Covid-19, we see buses as the only meaningful alternative to the car which is why, in this year’s budget, we put in the biggest-ever increase to the bus subsidy.”