PUBLIC transport campaigners in Thornbury are set to celebrate the improved service of a valuable bus link out of the town.

More than 400 people won a campaign to secure more funding from South Gloucestershire Council to reinstate the 312 bus service to Parkway Station, the University of the West of England and Frenchay Hospital.

The popular service had been reduced from an hourly to two hour service in January.

And on Monday, South Gloucestershire Council will implement the promised changes to the service, which is operated by Severnside Transport.

It has laid on extra services during the peak period, plus earlier and later journeys in the mornings and evenings to extend the period over which the service operates.

The timetable improvements will cost the council £62,000 this year and £92,000 a year for the next two years.

Thornbury Town Cllr Clare Fardell had led the campaign to improve the bus service.

She said: "This is great news for public transport users in Thornbury.

"Students, workers, rail passengers and hospital visitors without cars absolutely depend on this service, and everyone knows that a good public transport system is vital in the battle to reduce climate change.

"Service improvements will sort out problems a lot of passengers experienced when the service was cut at the start of the year."

Cllr Fardell said more improvements could still be made to the service if they were required.

She said: "I understand that the council has not used all the money allocated to improve the service.

"If anyone believes another service is needed they should contact the council who may be able to make further improvements."

The updated bus timetables are being distributed to residents along the bus route and are available at council offices, libraries and one stop shops.

All bus timetable information can be obtained from Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or by visiting www.traveline.info.