READING Buses has backed down on several of its controversial proposals to axe services in Caversham following pressure from residents.

The town's main bus firm planned to scrap the Pink 24 route and extend other routes across the town.

However, the proposals sparked a mountain of opposition from residents after several key roads faced losing their place on a bus route.

Reading Buses has now responded to the consultation and has outlined a string of changes to the original plans.

They include keeping the Pink 23 and 24 routes between Caversham Park and Emmer Green.

However, the routes will be converted into clockwise and anti-clockwise loops to provide access to schools, key roads and vital services.

Reading Buses has also vowed to provide an hourly through link to Royal Berkshire Hospital.

The service will operate Monday and Saturday by extending the 22 route from Caversham Heights and merging it with the 19 service to/from Lower Earley.

However, the 22 service will soon run as an hourly service during off peak hours and on Saturdays. The Sunday service is set to be scrapped by February 2018.

Martijn Gilbert, chief executive officer, said: "Whilst it is impossible to accommodate every piece of feedback received, the outcome of this consultation represents a sizeable reduction in the level of savings originally anticipated.

"In effect the company is now only perusing half of its originally planned savings and is instead seeking to grow bus use where the company is able to efficiently deliver a number of improvements and new links in response to the feedback received.

"We will also continue to invest in providing and enhancing services in Caversham and following these timetable changes, which are now planned for early next year, there will be further vehicle, branding and marketing initiatives to re-launch this revised network.

"I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to respond to the consultation and once this network is in place I'd like to encourage everyone to spread the word, be loyal in using their local bus company, especially when other options are available and, above all, get onboard to make best use of these services so that they can be maintained for the long term."