A bus company has stepped in to save three routes axed by a rival firm which would have left thousands of villagers isolated.

Stephensons of Essex announced it will roll out five new double deckers and eight new drivers to cover the 21, 30 and parts of the 131 and 132 routes, which First Essex will withdraw from on November 1.

This represents a £500,000 investment in the town’s bus service and will ensure buses run at "broadly" the same timetable as before.

For the full story, see this week's Braintree and Witham Times.