WORRIED pensioners said they were relieved to discover that three major bus routes set to be axed will be saved by another service.

As reported in the Lancashire Telegraph, Lancashire United announced it would have to axe Blackburn routes 3 to Sunnybower via Little Harwood, 8 to Wimberley via St Mary’s College and 9 to Revidge via Granville Road after Blackburn with Darwen Council said it could no longer subsidise them.

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Route 2 to Darwen via Royal Blackburn Hospital was also in the firing line and would have been replaced by the Shadsworth Shuttle.

But Darwen Coaches has stepped in they will to take up these routes on an hourly service.

Resident Janet Thorn, from Sunnybower, said: “This is wonderful news as Sunnybower is very out of the way up here, and a long climb even if you nip out to Little Harwood.

“Even though it will become an hourly service I’m still very happy that we will have something, and our route into town hasn’t been cut off.”

Sosisiya Patel, from Wimberley, said: “I’m disappointed we can’t still have a half an hour service but at least we will still have a bus, after all something is better than nothing.

“The news of losing the buses has been hard, but now public transport will still be an option.”

Peter Graham, transport manager for Darwen Coaches, said: “We as a company know the loss of services has been worrying for many and we are happy to offer a way for all people to still get across to the town centre.

“With us being a small company we care and class local community as the most important thing.

“The 3 will remain the same route, but in regards to the 8 and 9 services, they will become the D10, which will lose Beardwood and Lammack in its route.

“These two areas will be moved to the D15, and the 2 will become the 33 or 33a that also goes through Eccleshill and Hoddlesden.

“All services will be moved to hourly routes and a full timetable will soon be released.”

Darwen Coaches has confirmed that all buses along the routes will be single decker and wheelchair accessible.

The changeover of companies and route numbers will be on Sunday, August 28.