RESIDENTS in outlying east Cleveland villages are being given a ticket to ride, courtesy of the town hall.

Commuters have been left out in the cold since the Arriva bus company withdrew loss-making services more than a year ago.

From next month, a 25-seater bus will link Easington and Lazenby, as well as the villages of Liverton Mines and Skinningrove, into Redcar.

The service, which starts on Monday, November 12, will become the first fare-paying service operated by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's integrated transport unit.

The 784 will operate a return, limited stop service from Easington to Redcar, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while the 760 will run a return service from Lazenby to Redcar, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Councillor Mary Lanigan, the council's cabinet member for highways, transportation and planning, said: "We are absolutely delighted to be providing this much-needed service. It ends a long wait for everyone and will be a major benefit to the villages given Arriva's decision to remove these services.

"I am sure that all these residents will ensure the service becomes a viable proposition."

Councillor George Dunning, council leader, said: "Since Arriva withdrew buses from these villages, the council has been determine to find a way of reinstating the service."