A POPULAR rural minibus service in Meltham is under review.

The 933 bus has been running since summer 2001, linking the town's hilly surroundings with shops and services.

Metro conducts a routine review of every service every three years.

Before it was set up, the 933 bus aimed to attract 500 passengers a week.

It regularly ferries between 600 and 700 people.

Journeys run several times a day, Monday to Saturday, around the town and countryside.

Services connect the outer areas of the village with Safeway supermarket, the health centre and shops.

Drivers can divert up to half-a-mile off the route if a passenger requests it.

The bus also has a parcel and prescription carrying service and passengers can contact the driver by mobile telephone.

"Every three years we review how services are operating and then it goes back out to tender," explained Alan Bishop, rural transport officer for Metro.

"What's slightly different about the bus in Meltham is that it's run through a partnership and funded by four different groups."

Most of the funding comes from Metro with additional cash from Meltham Town Council, The Kirklees Pennine Rural Transport Partnership and South Huddersfield Primary Care Trust.

"We would hope to keep that same partnership running when the service goes back out to tender," said Mr Bishop.

"It has done remarkably well. It's a super little bus service and it's very well supported."

He added: "We have asked our other three partners if they will continue to support it as they do now."

Budgeting for the bus was discussed at the meeting of Meltham Town Council on Monday.