AN axe-threatened bus service for elderly people has been granted a one-month reprieve.

The H8 Holmfirth ‘hopper’ service was due to be scrapped tomorrow.

But after a meeting on Tuesday with Metro and Kirklees Council, campaigners have secured another month for the bus which serves the side streets of Thongsbridge, New Mill, Scholes, Hepworth, Jackson Bridge and Holmfirth, including Holme Valley Memorial Hospital.

Supporters of the Stotts H8 are in negotiations to land long-term funding and more passengers for the service.

The route was due to be dropped because of low passenger numbers.

The hourly H8 service will run until the end of August.

H8 supporter and Colne Valley Conservative candidate Jason McCartney said: “There’s plenty of will and there’s plenty of ideas and thoughts and Conroy Brook who are building homes for elderly people in the memorial hospital’s grounds are very keen to help, so its promising.”