MORE than 1,000 people have signed a petition to save their Weymouth bus service.

The Echo reported last week how residents in Southill and Radipole were up in arms about a proposal from First Bus to change the time and route of the number five bus.

More than 30 residents attended a meeting at Southill Community Centre to discuss their fears.

Residents then hit the streets and in 72 hours they had collected 1,057 signatures in support of a bus service through the community.

The group delivered petitions to Dorset County Council in Dorchester and also to First Bus in Weymouth yesterday.

Residents hope to have face-to-face meetings with officials from both organisations and said the fight to save the service was not over.

The main concerns are that buses would be cut, with the first leaving Southill at 9.30am and the last leaving Weymouth town centre at 5pm. This would mean that people who use the bus to get to and from work would have to find alternative routes.

Radipole Lane resident Jean Watling, who organised the petition, said: “We have got over 1,000 names and we are hoping it will be enough to get it discussed at a county council level.

“It’s been brilliant. We had a team of 13 to 15 people going out and knocking on doors. We have had people ringing up from all over Weymouth offering support.

“We only had about ten people say they didn’t want to sign it.”

She added: “We are now waiting on the responses and forming our plan of attack. We want to give them positive ideas about what they could do with the bus service.

“It’s been an example of all the best things about community action.”

Anne Crabbe, one of the original meeting organisers, said: “The community has been fantastic. The response has been absolutely amazing.

“We have had nothing but positive responses, I’ve had people following me up the road wanting to sign the petition.”

Radipole resident Yvonne Hall, said: “We want to say thank you to everyone for their support.

“I think when a cause is worth fighting for people will come together for it.”

The group is hoping that not only will they be able to save their bus service but also create a new community social group where people can go and meet up and make friends.