AN UNDER-THREAT bus service which carries around 55 people a week has been given a last minute reprieve thanks to a group of councillors.

Fierce debate at a meeting this month ended with members of Windermere Town Council agreeing to fund the 597 service for a trial period until the end of March, 2015, after it fell victim to Cumbria County Council cutbacks.

If the council agrees to fund the bus service after March it is estimated it will cost it around £10,200 per year.

"Four months will give us longer to find out if it's viable for us," said Councillor Lisa Greasley.

"It will also give the bus operator longer to find out if it is viable for him as well."

Cllr Alan Marsh said: "It gives the council a chance to see if that £10,000 a year is a worthwhile investment."

And Cllr John Saunders said: "I've spoken to a lot of people and they rely on this bus."

However, many councillors said they felt the cost was a lot for the town council to commit to.

"I desperately want this bus service to continue so I don't want to sound negative," said Cllr Robert Judson.

"But it's an astronomical amount of money for Windermere Town Council to take on into the future."

And Cllr Saunders added: "This is an incredible amount of money for this council to consider."

The service, which takes a circular route from Windermere railway station through Droomer Estate, Windermere Park and Goodly Dale, was previously run thanks to a subsidy from Cumbria County Council.

However, the council decided it could not continue offering financial help and the service ended on October 31.

It has not run since, leaving residents facing potentially expensive taxi fares for essential journeys.

Grange-based Blueworks Private Hire, which previously ran the service, lost the contract, but town councillors said another company had expressed an interesting in taking over the route.

However they raised concerns that the trial period might not be a success - and that they could be left having to axe the service anyway.

"It worries me that if it doesn't work we're the ones that are going to be taking the guilt," said Cllr Bill Smith.

And Cllr Judson added: "If it stops it stops because Cumbria County Council have withdrawn the funding, but four months down the road if it stops it's Windermere Town Council who have withdrawn funding.

"If we take this on and can't consider £10,000 next year we're the bad guys."

However, councillors agreed to the interim trial, which will take an estimated six to eight weeks to set up.