CAMPAIGNERS who have spent nine months trying to rescue their bus service may have to wait until next year before it returns.

New council-subsidised services are set to run to parts of Harrowgate Hill after politicians and residents petitioned for its return.

However, one of the key protagonists in winning the two services has been told the service would not operate until at least November and could be postponed until January 2010.

Leading councillors and council officers apologised to her at a meeting of Darlington Transport Forum because they were hamstrung by regulations.

Residents in the Harrowgate Hill area of Darlington first launched their campaign to retain an evening service from Harrowgate Hill to Whinfield and a second route accessing the Glebe Road and Mayfair Road last July when Arriva made a commercial decision to reduce operations.

Darlington MP Alan Milburn, as well as the three ward councillors met with Arriva after more than 200 residents voiced their anger at the changes.

Arriva made some changes in October following residents concerns including restoring a link to Harrowgate Farm and some evening services to Whinfield.

A review of the network was also ordered and Darlington Borough Council tendered for its supported services.

The council's cabinet has since approved new contracts for 17 routes to various private companies.

Among those were a Sunday service to West Park hospital, variations to the Blackwell service and the two routes to Harrowgate Hill. In addition, a route to Brafferton is to be maintained.

John Anderson, Darlington Borough Council's assistant director of regeneration, told the transport forum that services could operate from May but others, including those to Harrowgate Hill, will not start until at least November.

Shirley Winter, of North Road Community Partnership and a leading campaigner, labelled the whole process as a "shambles."

She added: "This has gone on for nine months are you are talking on that it could go on until next January. It is not acceptable.

"This is ruining people's lives because they cannot go out to do their shopping, to the doctors or to school.

"You cannot know how bad it is for elderly people not able to got day after day."

Councillor David Lyonette, cabinet member for transport, said: "There are rules to it but we are committed to doing it.

"If we could to it next week, we would do it next week."