Changes to First Wessex X51 bus service will come into effect on September 21.

The Monday to Friday 6.50am bus from Bridport West Street to Axminster will operate 13 minutes earlier to allow for a connection with the train service at Axminster.

The bus will leave West Street outside TOFS at 6.37am, the bus station at 6.43am and arrive at Axminster Rail Station at 7.32am. This will allow the bus to connect with the 7.37am train to Exeter which carries commuters, college and university students.

A spokesman for Western Area Transport Action Group (WATAG) said: “Traditionally, there was always a bus, Monday to Friday, from Bridport and Lyme Regis that connected with the 7.37am train. It was retimed with virtually no notice in September 2019 so that it arrived at Axminster Rail Station after the train had left, resulting in a number of travellers being severely inconvenienced. At the time, First Wessex insisted there was no demand, in spite of protests to the contrary.

“We are grateful to First Wessex for reinstating the connection. As a whole year has passed since the service was ‘withdrawn’, we hope this will be given maximum publicity and that passengers will be encouraged to use the service again.”