A POPULAR bus service which was axed despite hundreds of complaints is set to return.

The route covered 519, which was dropped by First Bus in 2017, will again be available to passengers in the form of two new services.

The 503 bus will travel from Bolton via Chorley Old Road to the Johnson Fold Estate and then back to Bolton via Church Road and the Brownlow Fold area. The 502 will take passengers in the opposite direction around the loop.

They will be run by Vision bus, which already operates a number of services across the borough.

The decision to bring the route back to the area around Johnson Fold has been applauded by local councillors.

Smithills representative Cllr Roger Hayes said: “When the 519 was removed it caused lots of hardship in Johnson Fold.

“Lots of people used that to get to the shops, the doctors, the dentist and such so it’s really important that it’s back.”

His colleague, Cllr Garry Veevers Cllr Hayes’ views.

He added: “We did campaign against the removal of the 519 and we had several meetings with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and First Bus because people needed the Chorley Old Road route. There was a part of people’s daily routines which were ruined completely.

“I think the introduction of these buses is a good thing, there’s a small concern about the number of buses that will be running and problems of congestion but otherwise it’s got to be a plus.”

Full details of the two routes are yet to be made available although Vision has revealed that they will begin to operate on September 2.

The firm has also recently announced that it will be running two new schools services starting from the same date serving Holy Cross High School and Albany Academy.

This service will run from Buckshaw Village and through the Astley Village areas.