AN ELEVENTH hour reprieve was handed to five Hampshire bus services after transport bosses saved them from cost-cutting.

Hampshire County Council had decided to shave nearly £500,000 off its £6m transport budget by slashing dozens of services.

However, the authority's environment chief Councillor Mel Kendal asked to have another look at some routes to measure their true worth.

Now the Stagecoach 69 service between Winchester, Bishop's Waltham and Fareham will continue on a Sunday albeit with a reduced timetable. And the Fareham, Lee-on-the-Solent, Gosport early weekday evening service will be retained.

Also avoiding the chop is the Fareham, Titchfield, Southamp-ton First Service 80B route, which will continue to run its early evening services.

For the full story see today's Daily Echo