RESIDENTS are hoping a decision to axe what they say is a vital bus service will be changed, after their campaign.

Around 600 people have signed petitions calling for the number 45 bus route from Llwynu estate to Abergavenny to be saved.

This includes a total of 317 signatures on an online petition.

The petitions were launched after Stagecoach announced the bus route would be axed from October 22 on a “commercial basis.”

The petition states: “The route is vital to the communities it serves, especially the pensioners, the disabled and young people without access to a car.”

A comment has been added to the petition which states: "I understand that the bus route we fought to save will be taken over by another supplier and the communities it serves will still have their service."

However, the Free Press understands that no agreement has officially been reached.

A Monmouthshire County Council spokeswoman said: “We listen to our residents and are currently exploring solutions for this bus service.

"It is too soon to share any specific news at this stage as nothing is confirmed.”

Mr Will Walker, a user of the service, said he is hopeful a solution can be found.

“People have shown that they really want the service to stay," he said.

“They say they would be lost without it.

“Once it has gone, they don’t know what they are going to do, especially a lot of older people.”

Stagecoach has said it will work with Monmouthshire County Council to help them consider an alternative service.

Campaigner Craig Titchener said a lot of people rely on the service.

"It is a well-used route that has served people in Abergavenny for many years," he added.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for Stagecoach in South Wales said: “We have managed to keep the Service 45 Abergavenny - Llwynu Estate local service running despite declining revenue from various sources, and increasing operating costs.

“This service is funded by bus passengers who use the service, it is therefore a commercially operated bus service.

“Unfortunately we can continue no longer with this situation as we see little hope for improvement in the commercial sustainability of the service with further cuts to funding on the horizon.

“We have reluctantly taken the decision to cease the service on an entirely commercial basis from October 22, 2017.

A petition can be signed at Abergavenny Conservative Club and at you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions.