A GROUP of residents are celebrating as a popular bus route returned to their streets after an eight-month absence.

The First bus 680 service was re-routed in August last year due to “serious access difficulties”.

The bus had served Wilmer Road and Park View Road in Heaton, Bradford, but was changed to serve North Park Road instead.

At the time a group of residents protested against the change. Now, following changes to access of Park View Road, First has moved the service back to its original route.

Colin Brushwood, operations manager at First Bradford, said: “We have been operating the 680 service via North Park Road, as opposed to Park View Road, due to delays being caused by inconsiderate parking on Park View Road.

“The 680 service has now returned to operate down Park View Road as the parking issue has been resolved due to new double yellow lines being added by Bradford Council.”

Joy Leach has led campaigns for local residents to bring the service back to its original route.

When the route was changed she led a demonstration at the bus stop.

She said losing access to it would lead to elderly residents in the area becoming more isolated.

She said: “We are delighted to have the bus back.

“When it was re-routed we were very upset as there hadn’t been much consultation with passengers.

“A lot of older people use the bus and when it was changed to North Park Road it meant it wasn’t very accessible to our bus users as the roads are sloped, especially when they might be having to make journeys carrying bags of shopping.

“It’s very important for us to have the bus back; a lot of people use it so it seemed to make economic sense and sense to us to bring it back.

“It has been coming down here for a number of years so it’s great to have it back.

“There were a number of councillors who helped us with negotiations with First.”

Members of the group of residents who campaigned for the route welcomed back the bus to its old route with banners and signs at the bus stop to celebrate its return.

The 680 bus route runs between Bradford Interchange and Bingley Railway Station, serving Bradford Royal Infirmary along the route.