COUNCIL bosses in Teesside have stepped in to keep a bus service on the road.

Hartlepool Borough Council chiefs have filled a gap in the timetable, caused by the re-routing of a service which threatened to leave parts of the town centre and the outlying village of Elwick without regular buses.

The council is funding additional journeys on the town's service so there is a bus every two hours for the affected areas.

The 516 service usually only runs four times a day, but from yesterday three additional journeys were being operated by Stagecoach.

The additional services will run until December 31, when the council will review the situation.

Councillor John Coward, chairman of the regeneration board, said: "We have already received a number of complaints from members of the public worried about losing their local bus service.

"A lot of people rely on buses to get about and we felt that their interests needed to be looked after. That is why we have stepped in to expand the 516 bus service."

For further information on the extended service call the council on (01429) 523581.