CAMPAIGNERS have won their battle to improve bus services in Leigh.

Arriva will run the 6A service off-peak service on Tuesdays to allow shoppers in north Leigh to travel to the Leigh town centre and rail station.

Donald Fraser, chairman of Southend Area Bus Users' Group, said people must use the service or lose it.

He said: "After nearly three years without a bus service to get into Leigh, people have been forced to shop in Southend or to get a taxi for £6 each way to Leigh.

"A return bus ticket would cost £2.70. Leigh has been the poor relation to other parts of the borough which have had routes reinstated.

"Now we need people to use this trial service so Arriva considers running it on another day."

The half-hourly service will start on January 22, at the Woodcutters, in Belfairs, and will work its way via Coombes Corner and the Elms pub to Leigh, before terminating at Leigh railway station. It will run from 10.25am until 1.55pm.

Richard Lewis, Arriva's marketing manager, said the service was being put in place in response to requests from local residents.

He added: "We are delighted to introduce this new facility which fills a gap in the network and for which there have been requests from local residents.

"We already run a peak hour service over this route for rail commuters, from Monday to Friday, and we hope the new Tuesday shoppers' facility will become well used.

"Those who wish to return later in the afternoon or in the early evening can use the commuter buses."

For more timetable details call 0844 800 4411 or visit www.arrivabus.co.uk