Cambridgeshire County Council has agreed to retain the number 10 and 10a service between Cambridge and Newmarket after 6.30pm, as well as Sundays and bank holidays, following a consultation with passengers and bus operator Stagecoach.

Earlier this year, the authority proposed plans to scrap the service, which covers Burwell, Bottisham, Reach, Lode and the Swaffhams, in an attempt to save £300,000 by cutting eight subsidised bus routes in the county.

But following a six-week consultation period, Stagecoach has agreed to run the evening buses on a commercial basis.

Evening journeys between Cambridge and Newmarket have been combined and reduced from four to two via the villages.

Councillor Matt Bradney, cabinet member for growth and infrastructure, said: "When we started this process I did not think we could save the number of routes we have.

"This has been a very difficult task to try and provide as many routes as possible while also making the financial savings which we have needed to make.

"We have managed to ensure that no village has been left without a service and the vast majority of routes which people were concerned about have been saved in one form or another."

Other services in the area which have been saved include the 117 route serving Upware, Wicken, Soham, Barway, Ely, while the number 46 and 47 route between Ashley, Dullingham and Newmarket has been partially saved, with services reduced to one peak-time bus and an off-peak shopping journey on a Tuesday.

All revised services will start from January, with a review of the number 10 Sunday service expected in July.

Burwell district and county councillor Hazel Williams said it was wonderful news.

"I am just so pleased and it is down to all the local people who put in their objections. It just shows when people put effort into something like this it can work."

Soham and Fordham district councillor Judy Broadway said reprieving the 117 service was a small step in the right direction.

"Public transport is very sketchy in this area and to axe the only bus seemed very unfair."