A vital bus route has been saved after a private contractor axed its service earlier this month.

Epping Forest Community Transport has stepped in to provide a bus between Nazeing and Hoddesdon after Trustybus chose to end its 392 route on January 3.

The charity’s new C392 service will run hourly between Tylers Cross, Nazeing and Hoddesdon Rye Park via Broxbourne every day from 7am to 7pm.

Trustybus gave notice its service would be canned in December and the new Community Transport route was given approval in just nine days.

District councillor for Nazing and Community Transport trustee, Cllr Richard Bassett, who helped organise the new bus, warned rural services in were under pressure of cancellation.

Cllr Bassett said: “We are seeing more and more the value of community transport in our district.

“In this case we would have seen no bus services in a village and surrounding area of 5,000 people until Community Transport saved the day by putting together this service in record time.”

“I am very concerned that many rural services are finding they are having bus services reduced or cancelled.

“Community Transport is stepping up its to provide services to dependant villages to prevent social exclusion and help with hospital and other appointments which otherwise people would struggle to attend.”

The C392 will run under a section 22 license, meaning all concessions are valid. Single fares have been reduced to £3, a return to £5 and children offered a cut-price £2 fare.

The 86 service, run by EOS, will now also be diverted via Bumbles Green and St Leonards before resuming its route from Harlow to Waltham Abbey as additional bus coverage for the village.

The Community Transport scheme has operated independently from Epping Forest council since 2015, when it received a £160,000 grant from Essex County Council for new vehicles.

It runs bus routes across Epping Forest and Harlow in a bid to help those who are unable to access traditional public transport.

The C392 was launched by Epping Forest council chairman Jeane Lea, who met driver Amy Carter and other commuters for the first bus at Nazeing Crossroads.

Cllr Lea said: “I want to congratulate everyone involved in the project.

“Rural bus services are under pressure everywhere but the C392 shows just what can be done when local people organise and act together.”

To find out more about Community Transport, or to volunteer as a driver, call: 01992 579556. For information on the new route, visit: efcommunitytransport.co.uk/bus-timetables.