An early evening bus service from Exeter to Moretonhampstead has been saved after a change of heart at Devon County Council.

The authority announced last week that the 18.15 departure on the 359 route was one of several under threat to be spared after plans for £1.35 million cuts from the £7.76 million public transport budget were finalised.

From April, Country Bus takes over the 359 contract from Stagecoach and will run the 18.15 service on Mondays to Saturdays (apart from public holidays), which is to terminate in Moretonhampstead's Court Street car park at 19.07.

The area's county councillor, George Gribble, who fought hard for the reinstatement, said the bus was needed particularly for workers and students to get home from the city.

'If they have not got their own transport it is a lifeline to them to get to and from their work or college,' he said.

Highways spokesman Cllr Stuart Hughes said: 'We have been clear throughout this process that reductions have been targeted to minimise the effect on the travelling public and we have sought to avoid removing the last remaining service away from communities.

'We are continuing to do our best to maintain services wherever possible and I have discussed the issue of funding for rural bus services with transport minister Norman Baker who has promised to investigate our concerns.'