A popular rural bus route will be served by a new company from September.

De Vere Cars in Sible Hedingham will take on the 323 service currently run by Hedingham.

The service, funded by Essex County Council, will run with the same timetable every Thursday from Greenstead Green to Sudbury.

Proprieter at De Vere Cars, Brian Davison, said: “I must say we are happy with the change.

“We offered to help the council out and continue this route - for us it’s about looking after people in the neighbourhood in a commercially viable way.”

Hedingham and Chambers general manager Jeff Clayton said resources will transfer to “more regular” mainline services to coincide with the new school year.