A LITTLE-used bookable bus service in the New Forest has been given a three-month reprieve.

Now people are being urged to use it or lose it.

Hampshire County Council was going to stop subsidising the Lymington-Sway-New Milton Cango bus service in early February because passenger numbers were so low.

Now, following a campaign by local county councillor Alan Rice and worried passengers, county leader Cllr Ken Thornber has granted the extension until April 28.

Then the county will check passenger numbers before making a decision on its future.

Cllr Rice welcomed the news, saying the Cango is important for people without cars, particularly the elderly, living in outlying areas.

He agreed the service had been "fairly heavily subsidised in the past".

"On the other hand, it does give people a chance to get out of their homes, look after themselves a bit, do some shopping, go to the hairdresser and such; to add some quality to their lives," he said.

He is trying to persuade the county council to keep the service operating even longer.

"It would be nice to keep it into the summer at least, and then see if there's a way of financing it long term," he said.

"It's a great asset to a lot of elderly people living in places like Tiptoe, Bashley and the top of New Milton."

The cost of running the service for the additional three months is in the region of £25,000.

Cllr Thornber described passenger numbers as "frankly disappointing".

"The current subsidy is well in excess of the benchmark set for the Cango services across the county and that benchmark is twice the level of a conventional bus subsidy," he said.

"However, I have decided on a further trial period to finally ascertain whether or not this service can be turned around to provide good value for money."

A balance has to be met between the needs of users and council tax payers, he said.

"I know there's great strength of feeling about this service within the community and this reprieve gives those who value the Cango the perfect opportunity to show their support."

Find out about Cango on 0845 602 4135.