RESIDENTS in East Dorset say they are jubilant after calls to retain their “invaluable” bus service into Ringwood and Bournemouth were answered.

Many bus passengers in St Ives and St Leonards were up in arms after hearing that Wilts and Dorset were cutting the number 36 service which runs from Verwood via Three Legged Cross and Moors Valley Country Park to Ringwood and then onto the Royal Bournemouth Hospital and the bus station.

It is popular among the elderly and disabled.

Now residents say they are “over the moon” to discover their service will be replaced with a revised number 38 hourly bus which will take them into Ringwood. Passengers will then be able to pick up the X3 to travel into Bournemouth Hospital and the town centre.

Cllr Ann Warman, of St Leonards and St Ives Parish Council and East Dorset District Council who led the fight, said: “People are quite jubilant.

“They are pleased because not only are they running the 38 where the 36 went, they have added two long roads in St Leonards and St Ives that have never had a bus service.

“The residents are over the moon.”

She did say that residents are concerned they will be unable to use their free bus pass on the X3 before the 9.30am curfew Hampshire County Council operates.

But Wilts and Dorset said that this is set by the authority.

The existing 36 and 37 buses will be replaced with a new X6 service direct to Ringwood and then onto Poole and Bournemouth.

The bus company say they were keen to reassure residents they would not be left stranded.

Mr Wills said: “We believe that the changes to the routes will make bus travel more accessible and practical and will encourage passenger growth in the region. We will be using double deck buses on the X6 to provide more seating and the new timetables for the X6 and 38 will offer later services to give more travel options.”