BUS passengers are being warned that there are changes from today to a service running along the B5300 coast road while roadworks are carried out.

Operator Reays is reportedly making temporary alterations to its 60 service which travels between Skinburness near Silloth and Workington.

Buses will be diverted on two different sections of the route, with a number of stops being missed out. Smaller mini-buses will also be introduced to enable the 60 service can continue to run safely during the disruption, which could last up to a month.

The B5300 road has suffered significant weather related damage in recent years.

Phase one of the roadworks includes closing the Maryport side of the Hayton road end junction to all traffic. During this period, buses on the 60 service will go along Hayton Road, emerging at Crosby Villa before travelling on to Maryport. Passenger stops being missed will include Blue Dial and Maryport cemetery. The return journey is the opposite way around.

Phase two of the work will see the Allonby side of the same junction closed.

Buses will then only serve the Silloth side of Allonby, turning up the Wigton road before travelling via Westnewton and Aspatria and on to Maryport. Again, the return journey will be the opposite way around.

Michelle Stacey, Reays’ commercial director, said: “We appreciate that this is a busy time of year with the Easter school holidays and going forwards into April but we would ask passengers to be patient as there is absolutely nothing we can do about it.

“Unfortunately, during the roadworks we will have to use a mini-bus on this route for us to be able to safely complete it.

“The original road closure was registered with the Highways Agency as a five-day closure but due to an error on Northern Gas Network’s application, the works could take up to four weeks. We do not know when phase one will be complete or when phase two will begin but we will keep passengers informed.”

A recent campaign was successfully launched to save the 60 service from being scrapped.