The cancellation of a Swindon bus service paves the way for "new and improved... east to west links" in the town, a bus company director has said.

Stagecoach West confirmed that its number 4 would be scrapped from Sunday, February 11.

The route, which caters primarily to residents in Tadpole Garden Village, will no longer be running in Swindon, with alterations made to number 10 to cover the most used areas of the cancelled route. 

The transport firm said that funding for number 4 had run out and so difficult choices had to be made. 

As a result, the number 10 from Freshbrook is extending to the Orbital Retail Park giving residents of Upper Stratton, Kingsdown and Penhill easy and direct access to it, and it will also continue to Tadpole Garden Village.

Rachel Geliamassi, Managing Director, Stagecoach West says: “The new and improved Service 10 will benefit commuters and leisure passengers in the region, opening up brand new East to West links across the region. 

“The removal of the under-used Service 4 is something we considered carefully and I recognise the effects of withdrawing a service on the local community. 

"However, we are really pleased that we've been able to retain the same frequency to and from Swindon town centre and STEAM/Designer Outlet for customers in Blunsdon St Andrews, Tadpole Garden Village and Orbital Park with the extended route 10, maintaining excellent travel links for passengers in the region."