A NEW bus summer evening timetable has been praised for improving connections between Okehampton and Exeter.

The timetable for the Stagecoach X9 service now has two buses that leave Exeter Bus Station at 7.50pm and 9.45pm, from Monday to Saturday. Two later evening buses from Okehampton to Exeter will also be available at 9pm and 11pm.

The move has been praised by Okehampton resident Barbara Childs. She is urging people to use the buses, supported financially by Devon County Council, so that the service stays in place.

She said: 'These buses will mean that day trips to other places in Devon will be possible once more, taxis from St David's Station will be needed less frequently and it will be possible to go to early evening events in Exeter.

'Students at Exeter College will be able to stay later in the city. For those who commute by bus it gives extra piece of mind that if they work a bit later they will still be able to get home. And travelling in the opposite direction, it will be possible to travel back to Exeter at 9pm and 11pm from outside Oxfam.

'These services are financially supported by Devon County Council and I suppose they will withdraw this support if the buses are not used. Most things are being cut at the moment but here is something extra we are being given.'

Okehampton mayor Cllr the Rev Mike Davies has also praised the new service and hopes people will use it: 'When we can get additional bus and train services linking Okehampton to Exeter and the wider community, it can only be a good thing for the town and its residents.

'It is great to hear of this service being extended later into the evening. Hopefully, we can increase the public transport services more and more to make travel easier for people commuting in and out of Okehampton.

'The more people that use this type of service will show the providers there is a real necessity so I would encourage people to get on board the bus and use the extended service.'

For more information on the X9 bus service timetable, visit http://www.stagecoachbus.com">www.stagecoachbus.com