CAMPAIGNING residents have scored a victory with the reinstatement of a popular Harlow bus route, probably from next month.

Residents in the Little Parndon area and Harlow MP Bill Rammell are celebrating after bus company SM Travel stepped in to restore the former Arriva service which took residents up the hill to Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Arriva pulled the plug on the much-used route last October, sparking outrage from residents, and a series of meetings between Mr Rammell, Harlow Council and the fuming pensioners.

But their actions failed to persuade Arriva to re-introduce the service.

Undeterred, Richard Stocker, of Ash Tree Field, and Mr Rammell approached SM Travel which agreed to provide a daily, hourly route between 9am and 3pm through Hamstel Road to the hospital.

Praising SM Travel's boss Sam Marino, Mr Stocker said: 'This is a victory well won. I would like congratulate Mr Marino for his commitment to providing this important public service.

'The service used to run up past the hospital, the doctors surgery and vets and was a lifeline for the elderly residents. They were forced to pay £5 for a mini- cab when the route was dropped.'

He added: 'I hope Little Parndon residents will support the new bus service. SM Travel, who are an Italian company, have shown how public spirited they are.'

Mr Rammell said: 'I'm very pleased that the pressure that I and pensioners have put on has paid off.

'SM Travel have stepped in and saved the day for bus users in Little Parndon. I hope that over time, all bus operators will be more responsive to users.'

Mr Marino said the new route was expected to start in the first week in June.

'We are committed to providing a good service for Harlow and are very pleased to provide this new service for our customers,' he said.