A company has confirmed it is increasing the frequency of buses serving Halstead and Gosfield.

Stephensons of Essex stepped in to take-over the 38a bus route after the First Group withdrew from the service.

Stephensons is now going to be using seven new single-decker buses from its new Braintree depot to run the service every half an hour, rather that the current hourly service.

An additional 12 staff have been hired.

The route travels from Colne Road in Halstead through Braintree and on to Witham.

Managing director Bill Hiron said: “I’m delighted that we are now able to operate half-hourly along the whole route from February 1, providing a much improved service for customers in Halstead, Gosfield, and parts of Bocking.”

Residents welcomed the news when it was first revealed in December.