Pensioner power has forced a bus company to alter its route after claims that elderly people were being stranded in their homes.

Bus firm First has announced plans for a twice-daily service to part of Bradford's Holme Wood estate, which had been left without a bus after services were diverted to avoid roadworks.

Residents had criticised the firm after it refused to re-route services because it claimed the diversion would interfere with the timetable.

Last week, a petition was handed in at First's Bradford headquarters calling on the firm to reconsider its decision. The Telegraph & Argus received several letters condemning the bus company over the issue.

Today Khadim Hussain, operations director of First in Bradford, said he hoped the new service would be an "amicable compromise".

It will run on a similar route to that taken by the 601, 602, 606, and 607 services before they were changed due to essential work being carried out on a railway bridge in Tyersal Lane.

"We take the issues our customers raise very seriously and always try to offer a high quality service," said Mr Hussain.

Gladys Hayes, 78, has been struggling to reach local shops since the buses were stopped. She is recovering from a heart attack and said she was "delighted" by the re-think

"Of course, it would have been better to have a service once an hour, but this will help as I have been unable to get into town since they took the bus away. It is good that they have listened to us."

The new service will operate from Mondays to Fridays, from Lymington Drive to Bradford at 9.30am and a return journey from Bridge Street to Bradford at 12.05pm.

The service will run until August 30, when the normal service is expected to resume.