A new bus service is being brought into cover a route which is being axed.

Metroline is withdrawing its 84 service between Barnet and St Albans at the beginning of April despite more than 4,500 people signing a petition to save it.

Since the decision was made, Hertfordshire County Council has been working with other operators, through the Intalink Partnership, to find a solution.

And with the help of Sullivan Buses, it has now secured a bus service to cover the majority of the existing 84 route.

Sullivan Buses has agreed to register a new route covering the Potters Bar to St Albans section of the route, which will be run with financial support from the council.

The new service will begin on April 2.

Phil Bibby, cabinet member for highways and transport at Hertfordshire County Council, said: “I know residents will be pleased that we’ve been able to find a solution that preserves the majority of the 84 route.

“We’ve listened to the feedback since Metroline announced the closure of the 84 route and we understand how important this service is to local people.

“I am really pleased that we have been able to work through the Intalink Partnership and find a way of continuing to fund this service and maintain this important public transport link in the county. We want to make it easy for people to choose public transport, and funding services like this is one way we can do that.”