A BUS service between Swindon and Royal Wootton Bassett will be shelved later this year.

Thamesdown have announced they will stop the R1 service by Sunday 22 October.

The bus service was introduced in May in response to local demand. Despite a positive start, the number of passengers travelling on the service dropped, Thamesdown said.

Alex Chutter, Thamesdown general manager, said: "When we created the R1, we did so after listening to the views of local people who felt they needed an improvement on existing services here.

“We introduced the route at our own cost, and were very happy with feedback from those travelling on the R1 with us. But this popularity prompted another local operator to increase the frequency of its number 55 service, also serving Royal Wootton Bassett.

“That meant too many buses serving the same area, and fewer people travelling on each vehicle - something we just could not sustain for the longer term. There weren’t enough users to cover our operating costs.

“In view of this, we have taken the decision to de-register the R1, and withdraw it from Sunday, October 22."

Stagecoach's number 55 bus already regularly runs between Swindon and Royal Wootton Bassett.

Thamesdown's Alex Chutter said: "We do not expect this move to have a detrimental effect on bus passengers here.”

For more information, visit: www.swindonbus.co.uk