JUBILANT town councillors are thrilled their bus service has been restored after fearing it could disappear forever.

Machynlleth-based Lloyd’s Coaches has been granted permission to run bus services between Barmouth and Porthmadog as well as between Morfa Bychan, Borth y Gest and Porthmadog.

The new services, which started on Monday, have also brought extra bus-driving jobs to the area.

Service 38/39 will operate up to eight journeys a day between Porthmadog, Harlech and Barmouth (connecting with service T3 to/from Dolgellau and Wrexham), and seven journeys will operate on the Service 99 Porthmadog, Borth y Gest, Morfa Bychan circular.

Since the Traffic Commissioner’s decision to revoke Express Motors (Penygroes)’s licence in January, residents have been stranded or have had to call ahead for a bus 24 hours in advance in certain areas.

Following discussions with local bus providers, additional services will now be available along the 38 and 39 route from Barmouth up to Porthmadog, as well as the 99 circular service between Porthmadog, Borth y Gest and Morfa Bychan by Lloyds Coaches.

Simon Brooks, chair of Porthmadog Town Council, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that the bus service is being restored between Porthmadog, Borth-y-Gest and Morfa Bychan. Four months is a long time without a bus and, if I’m honest, I feared that we might lose the service altogether or end up with one only geared towards tourists.

“Getting the service back has been a number-one priority for the town council, and we have pressed for this hard.

“This is absolutely fantastic news for the villages concerned.

Read the full story in today’s north editions of the Cambrian News