SHAMROCK buses are turning up a four-leave clover for pensioners and other bus users in the Fairmile area of Christchurch who were cut off by the loss of their local service more than a year ago.

From the end of October, the Poole-based company is diverting its current 31 service between Christchurch and Castlepoint to take in the Bronte Avenue and Suffolk Avenue areas abandoned by Transdev Yellow Buses.

Currently running four times a day Monday to Friday, the service is also being extended to run on Saturdays as well and the route revised to include Southbourne and Hengistbury Head.

The expansion of the Shamrock service follows extra funding pledged by Bournemouth and Christchurch councils to provide public transport where residents have been lobbying for their axed routes to be restored.

Shamrock's distinctive orange buses first ventured into Christchurch in March to pick up passengers stranded by the withdrawal of a service to the Homelands sheltered housing complex off Kings Avenue.

And Shamrock managing director Keith Baynton said the encouraging response had prompted the company and council to press ahead with further extensions of the 31 service.

Cllr Nick Geary, portfolio holder for transport at Christchurch council, said: "One of the reasons we wanted to provide this additional service to residents in and around Bronte Avenue and Suffolk Avenue was to allow them to get to Bournemouth Hospital."

He said funding was pledged until the end of the financial year but continuation of the extended 31 route into next year depended on the level of support from passengers.

"It is important for people to understand that neither we nor Shamrock Buses will be in a position to continue with the added parts of the route in Christchurch if the buses are not used," said Cllr Geary.

"We believe local people will value this improved service, but they must use it now to guarantee its future."

The extended 31 service will start on Monday, October 29, with buses leaving Christchurch High Street at 9.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 5.30pm and returning from Castlepoint at 10.34am, 12.34pm and 4.34pm. A further service leaving Castlepoint at 2.34pm will terminate at Kings Avenue.