THE elderly and wheelchair-bound will be able to visit Maryport town centre again thanks to Ellenvale Buses.
The company stepped in after Stagecoach withdrew the service.
Ellevale director Vicky Berwick said: "We have run the No 68 bus from Maryport to Cockermouth for 10 years.
"We also ran a service from Maryport to Silloth.
"During the pandemic, we combined the two services just to keep us on the road. Passenger numbers from Silloth have fallen to the extent that we have now withdrawn that service."
But she said the change meant the company was in a position to use the Maryport to Cockermouth bus to include the town centre.
"We think it is an important run, especially for the elderly and especially in winter."
She added, however, that the service could only be viable if there were enough passengers.
Cumberland and Maryport town councillor Carni McCarron-Holmes said she was delighted the situation had now been resolved and that people from the top of town would be able to access transport to the town centre.
"I was prepared to go down the line of asking the town council to contribute towards the cost of running a service if it was not viable," she said.
"I have heard of that being done down south and would rather have paid than lost the service altogether."
The new service will begin on July 21.
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