COUNTY bus chiefs have ridden to the rescue of passengers whose journeys home to the Forest are due to disappear this weekend.

The last two buses from Gloucester to Lydney and Bream are being axed by Stagecoach West from Sunday in a far-ranging shake-up of services affecting the Forest and Ross.

Also going is the 5.47pm Monmouth to Cinderford via Coleford, Lydbrook and Ruardean meaning the last Stagecoach will leave Monmouth at 3pm.

It was feared some people might have to consider giving up their jobs in Gloucester because of the changes to the timetable which means the last service 23 to Coleford will leave the city at 5.40pm – instead of 7.10pm.

Gloucestershire County Council has stepped in to fund a weekday shuttle service along the A48 between Elton Corner and Lydney and a later bus between Monmouth and Cinderford.

The new 23a will meet the 6.35pm number 31 Cinderford bus at Elton Corner but that means the last bus to Bream will be the 5.40pm Stagecoach Gloucester to Coleford service 23.

The 35a, which replaces Stagecoach's 35, will leave Monmouth at 5.30pm and will serve a number of villages

including Staunton, Broadwell, Christchurch, English Bicknor and is due to arrive in Cinderford at 6.36pm.

The new services will be run by Forest Community Transport.

County councillor Richard Leppington (UKIP, Blakeney and Bream) said he was "pleased" that commuters would have the choice of a later bus to Lydney.

He said: "It's not ideal because people will have to change buses and it only goes as far as Lydney but its much better than having the last bus leave Gloucester at 5.40pm.

"I've had a big postbag on the issue of buses and I was concerned that some people might have had to give up their jobs because they wouldn't have been able to get home.

"I've been told that the shuttle will wait for the 31 if it is delayed and that Stagecoach tickets and mega­rider tickets will be valid on the service."

He also praised the Review for its coverage of the issue.

He said: "The Review has really got behind people on this issue and given it a lot of prominence.

"Stagecoach has worked on the basis of greed not need but it is a commercial operation so there's not a lot we can do about that."

Stagecoach says it has made the changes following analysis of bus usage. The company says some routes are carrying more and more passengers but others are much less busy.

Cllr Will Windsor-Clive, Gloucestershire County Council's Cabinet member for planning and infrastructure, said: "We understand that it can be difficult for residents in the more rural areas of the county to use public transport to reach essential services.  

"This is why we've listened to the concerns of local people. Following the reduction of bus services by Stagecoach from Gloucester to the Forest of Dean in the evenings, we're helping to fund a later service via  Newnham, Blakeney and Lydney."