Yorkshire Water today eased fears that prolonged bus diversions in East Bowling would put pensioners at risk.

Elderly residents claimed the re-routing of the 617 and 618 buses away from Fenby Avenue had left them unable to pick up their pensions or get to supermarkets.

It was believed that an unexpected delay to diversions would mean many would brave a subway at the Sticker Lane and Wakefield Road roundabout to get to the nearest working bus stop.

But today the company, whose anti-flooding works have prevented buses getting along the road, announced it would run a free bus every day until the work was completed to take people to the Holme Wood post office and supermarket.

A spokesman for the company said: "We apologise to people in the area for the inconvenience and appeal to residents to be patient while this essential work is carried out."

The announcement was welcomed by pensioners - but some said they wished it had happened earlier.

War veteran Stanley Teal, 80, of Holme Wood Road, claims up to 80 pensioners have been left without a bus for about three weeks.

He said: "Nobody has thought how this has affected us."

Councillor Ann Ozolins, of the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority, said she believed that pensioners using the subway were vulnerable to muggers and thieves.

She said: ''This situation was dreadful for these pensioners. They have been stranded.

"Elderly people have been mugged under this subway in the recent past and we do not want more of them put in dangerous situations."

The road works are part of a £1.5m anti-flooding scheme, the first stage of which was completed last Saturday.

But the bus company claim they were only told last week that a second phase would begin nearby yesterday.

Spokesman Brandon Jones, said he was 'not happy' with the notice Yorkshire Water had given them for the continuing work, which means the company's timetable will continue to be disrupted. He said: "We have not been able to give our customers enough notice of the continued changes."

The Yorkshire Water bus will run continuously from 9am until 1pm stopping at existing bus stops at the end of Hasle Mere Close, Holme Wood Road, Holme Wood post office and Asda.