IT was standing room only for the first free bus out of Tweedsmuir last week.

The pilot project has been hailed a huge success.

And tickets are already being reserved for next month’s shuttle between the remote Peeblesshire community and Edinburgh - at the height of the Festival and Fringe.

Chris Lewin, Chair of the Upper Tweed Community Council said: “We’re delighted at the success of this first trip, and its popularity indicates the potentially high demand from local residents.

“Nearly every seat on the coach was taken and we heard afterwards from several people that they had enjoyed themselves. “Our next journey will be on Saturday, August 8, when we are anticipating that many local people will wish to go to Edinburgh for the Fringe.” Around 50 Broughton and Tweedsmuir residents took the first journey on the new community coach service to Edinburgh, made possible by a £1,670 award from the Infinis Glenkerie Community Fund.

The initiative came about as a result of a transport needs survey carried out by Upper Tweed Community Council, which identified a lack of suitable local public transport options.

They responded by commissioning the pilot coach service, which will run once a month over four months.

Alda Forbes, community relations manager for Infinis, said: “This initiative demonstrates how community benefit funding can help local residents and we’re pleased to support the Community Council in helping address local needs.” The once-a-month coach will make its second journey on Saturday, August 8, at 9.40am.

Organisers have stated that, yet again, there is no restriction on passengers using the service to travel from Tweedsmuir to Broughton and connecting with the 91 service from the village to Peebles.

The bus will arrive at Broughton for 10am and reach Edinburgh at 11am.

The return journey will depart from Waterloo Place at 6pm with an arrival time at Tweedsmuir expected at 7.15pm.

Passengers from Tweedsmuir can use the service just to travel to Broughton School, from where they can catch the 10.03am bus to Peebles.

And the last bus back leaves Peebles at 5.20pm, arriving at Broughton shortly after 5.45pm, from where the bus back to Tweedsmuir can be picked up.

Tickets for the August service can be purchased in advance, at a cost of £1, from Broughton Shop and the remaining tickets will be issued free of charge on the bus.