AN EARLY-morning bus service from Llanidloes has been saved at the 11th hour.

The service between the town and Newtown was due to be axed next month by Powys County Council as part of a raft of cuts to save £500,000 a year.

But the popular T75 service will now be retained, Powys council has said, along with other county routes “following successful discussions between Powys County Council and local bus operators”.

Celtic Travel will continue with the T75 route between Llanidloes and Newtown from Monday to Friday on a ring-and-ride basis with the same route number, the council anno­unced.

Cllr John Brunt, Cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We are delighted that these local bus operators have decided to run these routes, continuing these services for the public."

The Cambrian News revealed in July that, while all bus services in Machynlleth were to avoid the axe in a £500,000 cost-cutting sweep by the county council, services to and from Llanidloes were under threat.

The popular X47 service betw­een Llanidloes and Aberystwyth has already been retained, as well the X75 between Llanidloes and Shrewsbury.

Both services are also run by Celtic Travel.