PRESSURE from passengers has saved a vital weekend bus service to Liverpool and averted a miserable Christmas for bus users and their families.

The X22 Saturday service from Glebe Green to Liverpool and back is a real lifeline for many people in Winsford with families in the city.

And current operator Arriva's decision to scrap the service on December 22 had left users distraught.

However, Middlewich operator Local Motion signed a rescue deal with Cheshire County Council yesterday, which will save the bus service for at least the next six months, after which a review will take place.

The council invited tenders soon after it received a petition containing hundreds of names, indicating the strength of feeling about the proposed cancellation of the service.

Passengers have always maintained that the bus is busy every weekend and the route would be profitable for whoever took it over.

Barbara Court uses the bus to visit her elderly mother in Liverpool and was one of five passengers who organised a petition to keep the bus running.

She said: "If the bus service starts again it will be because of the community getting behind the campaign and the petition that was organised.

"And it's the publicity from the Guardian that has made people take notice and go for the tender.

"We would have preferred it if Arriva had run the service because we know and like the two drivers but to be honest we don't really mind who runs thebus as long as there is one."County councillors Pam Booher and Tony Hooton have both been great for us and we want to thank them too."

Clr Pam Booher said: "I submitted the petition to the county council's transport department after so many people approached me to help.

"There was a letter from an elderly woman in Liverpool who absolutely depended on her daughter being able to come from Winsford to help her at the weekend - it had me in tears.

"I'm very pleased that things have been resolved so close to Christmas and we have a service we can rely on in the New Year."

A county council spokesman said: "It is now up to passengers to support the new bus in the next six months and make sure it continues."

Services will only be lost for one weekend, with the new Local Motion bus starting on Saturday, January 4.

Prices will increase slightly; with a day return now £5, but concessions will still be £2.50.

rfraser@guardiangrp.co.uk