LESS than a month after the free Hinkley Point community bus service between Minehead and Bridgwater was back on the road, after being withdrawn in March, EDF Energy this week suspended the service until further notice.

A spokesman said: “We have carefully reviewed the latest government guidance and feel that for everyone’s safety the temporary suspension of the service is the most appropriate action to take at this time.

“We fully understand the importance of the bus service to the local community. This is only a temporary suspension and we are keen to recommence the service as it is appropriate to do so.”

The three-bus-a-day service resumed on December 7 with a break over Christmas and was set to return last Monday. It was the only public service between Minehead and Bridgwater and residents in villages along the route had come to rely on it.

County councillor Hugh Davies, who helped to start the service in 2017, said he was disappointed it had been discontinued but fully understood the reasons and would do all he could to have it reinstated as soon as possible.

Local MP Ian Liddell-Grainger also pledged to work with the operators to ensure that the free buses started running again as soon as it was safe to do so.

He added: “There may only be a small risk of the virus spreading between users of the service but we must eliminate even the most minimal risk if we possibly can.

“I look forward to seeing the bus back on the road once we start to emerge from this current national emergency.”