PENSIONERS who complained they had been left housebound by the cancellation of a bus service to Basildon shopping centre are delighted a replacement service is being launched.

The No 1A bus, which was used by residents at Afflets Court sheltered housing complex, in Glebe Field, Basildon, stopped running in April.

It used to pull up directly outside Afflets Court, offering residents easy transport to the shopping centre.

Many of the pensioners complained they were left housebound by its cancellation, as they were unable to walk up the hill to the next nearest bus stop, in Whitmore Way.

Local charity Basildon District Volunteer Carers has now agreed to provide a replacement service, which will be funded by Essex County Council.

This will provide three journeys each way per week, between Afflets Court and Basildon Bus Station, off Southernhay.

Ron Kendell, 71, from Afflets Court, said: “We’re really pleased and have heard we’ll be able to use our bus passes, so it should be free.

“We would like to see it running every day. There is a worry it will only be a 16-seater bus, so there will not be enough seats. However, these are hopefully all things that can be worked out.”

He added Afflets Court is a large complex and some residents struggle to walk to the main entrance.

Because of this it would be better if there was a second pick-up point from the pavement in Glebe Field, which is closer to many residents’ homes.

Basildon and Billericay Tory MP John Baron, who worked in partnership with Basildon District Volunteer Carers to help arrange the replacement service, said: “I would like to thank Essex County Council and Basildon District Volunteer Carers for stepping up to the plate and providing this service three days a week.

“However, it is only a trial service so I encourage local residents to use it or lose it, once it is up and running.”

Susan Phillips, co-ordinator of Basildon District Volunteer Carers, said: “We will accept bus passes. We carried out research on the usage of the former 1A service and talked about it with residents.

“Following this, we think a 16-seater bus will be big enough, but this can be reviewed. We will also look at picking up from Glebe Field.”