A ‘VITAL’ bus route linking Preston to East Lancashire has been saved after hundreds of people signed a petition opposing a motion to scrap the service. 

The 280 bus was under threat as operator Rotala Preston Bus advised it could no longer provide the service commercially after June. 

But Lancashire County Council and Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire have announced they have struck a deal to ensure the service continues. 

The new operators will take over on June 17 meaning there will be no gap in the service. There will be minor timetable amendments and the route has altered slightly to include a stop in Earby.

County Councillor Geoff Driver, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “This is a well-used bus route providing thousands of people with a vital link between their home towns and employment areas such as the Samlesbury Enterprise Zone. 

“Without it, people would struggle to get to work, school and many communities across our county would become isolated.”

The proposed cancellation of the route, which departs from Preston and connects Clitheroe to Skipton in a loop, was also lobbied against by Ribble Valley politicians. 

Council leader cllr Stephen Atkinson added: ““I would like to pass on my thanks to all the councillors as well as our MP, Nigel Evans who have worked very hard on this complex lobbying exercise.”