A DORSET pensioner who said he would pay for his bus service after it was axed has been offered a free takeaway every week for the rest of the year.

As reported, Alan Williams vouched to pay for the X53 Sunday route from Weymouth to Lyme Regis while it was cut throughout January until March.

However, after offering to originally pay the bus operator, First, said they would cough up and finance the cost instead of the Bridport pensioner.

Now Mr Williams, 78, has been offered free fish and chips for two each Friday for the rest of the year available from three west Dorset restaurants, including The Hive in Burton Bradstock.

A spokeswoman for The Hive said: “As a number of our team members over the years, and all year, have used the X53, and still do so, they were touched and impressed with Mr Williams’ generosity and wanted to show their admiration.

“They came up with the idea to offer him takeaway fish and chips every Friday for the rest of 2022, and he was delighted at the thank you.”

"As one of our chefs said 'what an amazing gent'.”

“He had his first fish and chips last Friday and said he enjoyed them very much - which is always good to hear.

Read more: First backtracks decision to axe bus service

“We offered him fish and chips for two, each Friday, and as he is single, he says he’s already had a couple of friends offering to accompany him each week.”

Following media coverage of Mr Williams’ initial offer to pay for the ‘important’ Sunday bus service First decided they would backtrack on their decision to allow the retiree to pay.

And even though the 78-year-old is no longer forking out for the route out of his own pocket he is still being offered his Friday meal for the rest of the year.

The spokeswoman added: “Even though First decided to fund the Sunday route, saving Mr Williams his generous financial offer, the team wanted their thank you to stand as a way of thanking him for helping to provide the facility for staff to get to work on Sundays - as all three of our sites, The Club House at West Bexington, The Hive in Burton Bradstock, and The Watch House at West Bay, which are all along the X53 route.”

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