PASSENGERS who were told to "use or lose" a York bus service are getting on board and heeding the message, a councillor said today.

Acomb ward member Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing said that the restored number 16 bus between Boroughbridge Road and Beckfield Lane was going well. Hundreds of residents signed a petition to reinstate the service, which was originally axed by operator First because of lack of use.

But Coun Simpson-Laing, then executive member for transport, negotiated a new deal earlier this year which saw the Acomb link returned for 18 months - on the proviso that people patronised the service.

She said today that residents had been told the service was going well and could even be extended to run later in the evenings.

Coun Simpson-Laing said: "I spent many months trying to persuade both council officers and First that a

Boroughbridge Road and Beckfield Lane link to Acomb could work.

"I have always said it would be a 'use it or lose it' service and people are using it. I know Coun David Horton and myself will be lobbying to ensure that this service remains after the 18-month trial.

"If First ask for a subsidy we will request that the council pay it to help the older members of the population access health, leisure and shopping."

Peter Edwards, commercial manager at First, said: "We were made acutely aware by the population in that particular area of the city that they were less than happy about the loss of the service.

"We have been closely monitoring the new service since it was introduced and we have now reached the stage where the patronage levels are satisfactory.

"We are still looking at the service, but can highlight it as an example where we can co-operate with the city and use our commercial resources to try to take account of things like the social needs of our passengers."

Updated: 10:04 Saturday, October 25, 2003