THE first anniversary of a restored Wiveliscombe to Wellington bus service has been celebrated with a ‘bus walk’ by campaigners.

The No 27 bus was revived last April after a lengthy absence to run twice a week between the two towns, recently expanding to include a third day.

Members and friends of Wivey-Welly Bus User Group were influential in persuading Somerset Council to bring back the link.

They celebrated the one-year anniversary by travelling on the No 27 to West Buckland and Langford Budville and talking with passengers about their experience of the service.

They then walked from Langford Budville to Tonedale, on the northern edge of Wellington, a route which is promoted as one of the area’s ‘bus walks’.

A spokesman for the group said: “This service has been badly missed but is becoming popular again.

“We want to publicise not just the link between the towns for shopping and other services but also the places in between, the cafes, pubs, and garden centres that it is now possible to visit without a car, and specifically, the recreational opportunities such as walking that can be undertaken without having to drive.

“We are currently working with the Wivey Walkers group who are updating their ‘bus walks’ leaflets about walks in the Wiveliscombe area which can be done with the help of a local bus.

“As well as thanking them for this, we would like to thank other organisations that have helped us get the service we have now, particularly Somerset Bus Partnership, Somerset Council, and local councillors.

“We will continue to promote this service so that it prospers and hope that in the future it will become a daily service.”

The 27 bus now operates each week on a Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, and also serves Milverton.

The Wivey-Welly Bus User Group has a Facebook page with more information.