With the school holidays coming to an end, First Wessex has announced changes to its services.

The changes will start from Sunday, September 3 and will see alterations to accommodate seasonal passenger demand.

The changes are to bus routes across West and South Dorset with some journeys withdraw and the frequency of buses reduced for the autumn, winter and spring months.

Simon Newport, General Manager of First Wessex, explained the changes.

He said: “As local residents will understand, once the new academic year starts the footfall of holidaymakers throughout the region reduces significantly. Across the autumn, winter and spring months it is important for us to find the correct balance and tailor our services to match the demand. We’re sure that the changes we’re introducing will provide a suitable level of service at the most convenient times for our passengers.”

Services X55 (Weymouth to Lulworth and Bovington), 500 (Bowleaze Cove to Weymouth Sea Front) and 510 (Weymouth to Portland and Bridport) are specifically tailored for the influx of tourism in the region over the summer and will be withdrawn.

Many of First Wessex’s service have been on increased frequencies since Easter to accommodate for the greater demand and will now be reduced. These include:

• Service 1 (Weymouth to Portland): Overnight journeys on Thursdays have been withdrawn. Passengers from Monday to Friday can expect a bus every 12 minutes, on Saturday every 15 minutes and every 20 minutes on Sundays.

• Service 2 (Weymouth to Littlemoor): The frequency on Saturdays and Sundays have been reduced to every 15 and 30 minutes, respectively. Buses on Dorchester Road will continue to interwork with service 10 and provide a journey every 7 or 8 minutes on Saturdays and every 15 minutes on Sundays.

• Service 3 (Weymouth to Westham): The Sunday timetable has been withdrawn, but service 8 will operate an hourly service via Westham Estate throughout the day.

• Service 4 (Weymouth to Preston): The late evening journeys will be withdrawn. However, service 2 is extended to Preston between Monday to Saturday. The Saturday frequency is reduced to every 30 minutes.

• Service 5 (Weymouth to Crossways and Dorchester): The overall frequency is reduced to a bus every two hours and the Sunday service is being withdrawn.

• Service 8 (Weymouth to Chickerell): The Monday to Friday frequency will now be every 15 minutes and every 20 minutes on Saturdays. Passengers can expect a bus every 60 minutes on Sundays, which will also divert via Westham Estate throughout the day.

• Jurassic Coaster X51 (Dorchester to Bridport and Axminster): The overall frequency will be reduced to every two hours. However, additional journeys will operate a school and off peak times. The Sunday service for this route will be withdrawn after Sunday 24 September. Between Bridport, Charmouth, Lyme Regis and Axminster, combined with the X53 service, buses will operate every hour and connect with trains at Axminster Station.

• Jurassic Coaster X52 (Bridport/Lyme Regis to Exeter): This service will now operate two off peak return journeys from Monday to Saturday.

• Jurassic Coaster X53 (Weymouth to Bridport & Axminster): The frequency will now become every two hours. However, additional journeys will operate a school and off peak times. Buses will also operate every two hours on Sunday. Between Bridport, Charmouth, Lyme Regis and Axminster, combined with X51 service, buses will operate every hour connecting with trains at Axminster Station.

• Jurassic Coaster X54 (Weymouth to Wareham and Poole): There will be four return journeys a day on Monday to Friday. This service will also operate on Saturdays until Saturday 30 September.