A NIGHT bus scheme that has been left in limbo for nearly a year suffered another setback when the district council pulled out of running the service for a second time.

Councillors in Dursley and Cam are disappointed that plans to reinstate the service have fallen through again.

The area has been left without a night bus since a pilot scheme run by the district council was cut last July.

Since then Dursley Town Council and Cam Parish Council have been working together to try to reinstate the service, which was popular with children and families visiting the cinema and restaurants in Stroud on the weekends.

Stroud District Council recently approached Dursley and Cam to say they could be part of an ongoing contract that they have with Stagecoach, which would provide a night bus for the area.

Cllr Daryl Matthews, Dursley town councillor, said: "Unfortunately it seems we backed the wrong horse.

"We were persuaded by the district council to go with them on the project instead of funding our own bus. We were wrong - the Stroud service is not going to happen.

"There was a suspicion throughout that Stroud might be flogging a dead horse."

Cllr Matthews continued: "We need to arrange a meeting so we can look at getting our own service up and running as soon as possible."

The district council have pulled out of the partnership because after offering to underwrite the Dursley night bus service for six months - at a cost of up to £25,000 - they were approached by Stagecoach for funding of £57,000 for a concessionary fares scheme in Stroud.

A spokesman for Stroud District Council said: "With responsibility for these unanticipated increases falling on district councils rather than the government, the possibility of having to pay out £57,000 and further sums for daytime bus routes means that we cannot risk a further £25,000 of council taxpayers' money on the night bus.

"However, funding grants are available from the district council should Dursley and Cam wish to run their own night bus service."