VILLAGE commuters and shoppers are to benefit from a city centre bus link after a service was extended.

People living in Madeley, Betley and Weston will get a direct connection with Hanley for the first time since 2003, with the overhaul of D&G's 85 service.

The hourly service, which currently runs between Crewe and Newcastle, will be extended to the city centre from February 13, meaning passengers heading to Hanley will not have to change buses.

A previous route linking the three villages with Hanley was withdrawn by Arriva in 2003.

Staffordshire University, Stoke Station and Hartshill will also be served by the modified service.

David Reeves, managing director at D&G, said: "This alteration will open up new direct public transport links for passengers who currently have to waste time changing buses. We hope the travelling public will find it very useful."

Buses on the route will operate all day Monday to Saturday, and an extra journey will operate from Crewe to Hanley at 5.50am, Monday to Friday.

Evening and Sunday journeys will still terminate in Newcastle.

Modern easy-access buses will be used on the service, with concessionary OAP and disabled passes accepted throughout the route. Special fares will be available to students on production of an ID card.

Billy Welsh, Lib Dem borough councillor for Madeley, below, welcomed the changes to the service.

He said: "It's always good to see bus routes extended like this, and I'm sure people in Madeley will be glad to have a direct link with Hanley again.

"D&G are a very good bus company, they do really care about their customers."

People living in Madeley say the new service is a welcome boost for the village.

Dave Whitmore, chairman of the Madeley Residents' Association, said: "If it saves people in Madeley time to get into Hanley, then I think it's going to be beneficial for the village.

"It will be great for students too, as we do have students who live here and it is a lot of hassle to get into Hanley."

The residents' association vice secretary and fund-raiser, Anne Spilsbury, is also in support of the new bus route.

Anne, aged 58, of Moss Lane, said: "Anything to help improve the bus service in the area is certainly welcome to all our residents.

"The current journey increases the time it takes to get to Hanley, so to have a service that will now get residents there directly will be very useful."

Other residents and bus users believe the new route will entice residents to use public transport.

Barry Panter, aged 62, of Birch Dale, said: "It will be a new way of getting people to travel on the bus, I will definitely consider using it.

"Hanley is usually busy and it's a struggle to find a car parking space.

"I think that because it will be easier to get into Hanley, more people will travel using public transport. This will help drive down congestion in the area which is definitely a good thing."

Full details of the new timetable can be found at www.dgbus.co.uk or by calling 01270 252970.