VILLAGERS fighting to save a vital bus link with Bridport have been promised total support form town councillors and their MP.

Residents at Bothenhampton face being stranded after operators First were banned from stopping along Sea Road South.

In the past the company unofficially picked people up and dropped them off along the busy stretch of road - a designated clearway.

But highways chiefs say that is unsafe and police have been told to enforce the rules.

This week Town Clerk Ron Gregory told members of the plans committee that First had now ruled out changing the route to pick up passengers on the adjoining housing estate.

A test run taking in Maple Gardens and Pasture Way had added an unacceptable eight minutes to the journey time into Bridport - mostly because the bus had to cross the traffic flow twice.

Members were told the problem now was trying to find a suitable place along Sea Road for a layby where a bus could pull in.

Town Surveyor Bernard Paull said one site could be alongside Asker Meadow which the council owned. If the Highways Agency really wanted to provide a bus stop the council could give serious consideration to providing some land there, he suggested.

Chairman Carole Murless said many passengers were elderly. "We need to support these people totally," she said.

Councillors agreed to work with the other agencies involved to try and find a suitable site for a bus stop.

Meanwhile West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin has also taken up the case. In a letter to the Highways Agency he tells them he was "alarmed" at their decision to stop buses stopping on Sea Road South.

He adds: "I should be most grateful if you could let me know why the Agency has made this ruling rather than finding some solution that would carry police support.

"I appreciate you cannot amend the Clearway Order without such support but it must surely be possible to find some compromise solution that would allow Bothenhampton residents to use the bus."