A BUS service that operates from Crewe and Leighton Hospital has seen several ports of call reinstated.

The 42 service, run by operator D&G Bus from Crewe to Congleton had axed three stops on route in Middlewich because of delays caused by heavy traffic.

However, after discussions involving local councillors and Cheshire East Council's Transport Service Solutions, as well as the impact of Covid-19 has had on traffic flows, the bus will again be making stops at Elm Road, King Street and Centurion Way in Middlewich from Monday, October 19.

The 42 service runs operates nine services a day in each direction from Monday to Friday and six on Saturdays.

Cllr Craig Browne, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council, who has responsibility for strategic transport, said: "This is great news for residents and especially those who might rely on this service to access health care, go shoppin or simply to get out and about for their general health and wellbeing.

"I would like to thank our transport team, Transport Service Solutions, for their work to find a solution at a time of significant workload due to Covid-19.

"With reduced levels of traffic across the borough we have been able to reinstate this section of the route. However, we will need to monitor the passenger numbers and reliability of the service over the coming months to assess the viability of retaining these elements of the service if and when traffic levels increase."

The council's deputy leader has called on the government to fulfil its promise to "adequately" fund local councils for the additional costs of the pandemic.

"We have received repeated assurances from government that councils will be fully compensated for costs incurred in the fight against Covid-19 – but we are yet to see the promise meet the forecasts. This council faces a shortfall of around £26m without additional government funding," he said.

"Councils across the country are all facing the same significant challenges – Cheshire East is far from unique. We need the government to fully deliver on its promises."