A CUMBRIAN MP has welcomed the news that a new bus provider has been found to take over the running of a service that was due to be scrapped.

The 530 bus service, from Cartmel Peninsula to Kendal, was set to be withdrawn at the end of the week but Kirkby Lonsdale Coaches have stepped in to save the day.

Kirkby Lonsdale Coaches intend to retain almost all of the current timetable, as well as adding an extra Saturday service, and buses on weekdays outside of school term time to offer a later return from Kendal.

The service will also run on most Bank Holidays and return to travelling via Levens which will restore a five-day-a-week service to the village.

Additionally passengers will be able to take advantage of lower fares as the company is part of the Department for Transport’s maximum £2 Single scheme.  

It comes after a petition launched by Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, received almost 500 signatures from local residents calling for councils and bus companies to work together to find a solution.

Mr Farron said: “This is absolutely brilliant news and I’m massively grateful to everyone who signed our petition and backed the campaign.

“I want to say a huge thank you to councillors and officers at the new Westmorland and Furness Council who have worked their socks off to get this over the line, and of course to Kirkby Lonsdale Coaches who have stepped in to save this service.

“It’s so important that this bus service has a long-term future and that can only happen if people use it. So I would encourage everyone on the Cartmel Peninsula to take advantage of this fantastic service.”

Residents previously warned that for older people, catching the bus is a way for them to 'avoid isolation.'