THE RECENT reinstated evening bus service in Matchborough has proved popular with residents.

Worcestershire County Council is delighted with the initial take-up of the returned 57/58 service on the Matchborough Circular route, which was put back in place last Monday.

The service has been funded by Urban Bus Challenge cash awarded to Redditch Bus Quality Partnership in 2002/03 and is being run on a pilot basis in the hope it becomes financially viable and returns on a permanent basis.

It is being operated by Peoples' Express as part of the Birmingham Coach Company.

A county council spokesman said: ''We've had really encouraging feedback from the operator in the first week of the service returning and the number of people using the buses has so far been good.

"Numbers were especially good with revellers using the service to get into town at the end of the week, with a 100 per cent increase compared to Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.''

Buses run Monday to Saturday every 30 minutes and serve Church Hill, Winyates, Matchbor-ough, Woodrow and Greenlands.