VILLAGERS near Stockton left without a bus service since the collapse of Stagecarriage are being reconnected thanks to the council.

A new bus service for Stillington, Whitton, Carlton and Redmarshall will hit the road next Monday after Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council stepped in to provide a temporary replacement service.

The villages have been cut off since Stagecarriage went bust in July.

The new number 84 service will run 10am to 2.30pm, Monday to Saturday, linking the villages to Stockton town centre via Tesco Durham Road and University Hospital of North Tees.

Councillor Mike Smith, Stockton council's cabinet member for environment and transport, described the bus service as 'a lifeline' for communities.

He said: “The Tees Valley Combined Authority is looking to provide a ‘demand-led’ bus service to these villages at the turn of the year, so what we agreed was to step in and fill the gap by providing a community bus service in the meantime."