A campaign for funding to reinstate a bus route between the Ross-on-Wye and Ledbury is nearing its target following a raft of donations, including a “generous” one from up north.

The Buses4Us community action group, which was set up in response to “drastic” rural bus cuts back in February, are aiming to raise £250,000 to create a new service between Newent, Ross-on-Wye and Ledbury.

And as of this week, the group have secured £147,500 and now need a further £44,000 to get the service started.

The group have sought donations from local councils, community groups, businesses and residents to raise the funds needed to prove the service is viable.

Having secured pledges from the three town councils—equivalent to £3 per voter—as well as contributions from Gloucestershire and Herefordshire councils and Forest of Dean District Council, the campaign is well on its way.

The group say a £50,000 request for funding from the National Lottery, along with an hopeful £10,000 from an unnamed charity, will take them over the £200,000 mark.

Local businesses and organisations have also pledged their support, including Newent clothing shop Country Corner and minimum waste shop Ingram’s in the last week. Another recent donation came from an unexpected source, being that the donor lives 160 miles away in Lancashire.