BY TOBY ROBINSON

AFTER a hard-fought battle to reinstate it, the long-awaited return of a bus service linking Crewe and Haslington is back on ice.

The popular no 34 service was removed from the timetable at the beginning of 2000, infuriating hundreds of regular travellers who decided to take action.

A petition signed by 350 people from Crewe and Haslington was handed in to council officials and following a special meeting last October, it was agreed the service was needed on 'social' grounds.

Two tenders had been received to run the service but due to lack of funds, the county council has decided to defer the service until April when it hopes to use the Rural Bus Initiative to aid costs.

Haslington borough cllr Dawn Threadgold was instrumental in negotiations and is disappointed it's return has been delayed.

"Obviously I am unhappy that we're having to wait still longer for this 34 bus to reappear," she said.

"I hope the county council will do all in its power to make sure that our efforts have not been in vain. There is no doubt that we need this route to resume."