The new bus service linking Haddenham and Wilburton with Ely will welcome its first passengers on board next Monday.

The Ely Zipper – or ZIP for short – will leave Witcham at 6.52am on November 3 from its maiden voyage into Ely.

Along the way, it will collect passengers in Haddenham, Wilburton, Stretham and Little Thetford before stopping off at Tesco and Market Street, in Ely.

The service, being run by Dews Coaches, will also make stops in Aldreth once a day.

County councillors Anna Bailey and Bill Hunt are behind the new service which replaces the current 106 bus service.

The name ZIP was chosen by Sutton resident, Britni-May Edwards after replying to a competition run by the Ely Standard.

Support from Cambridgeshire County Council for the proposed new service is for an initial period of three years – after which it will be reviewed.

Councillor Bill Hunt said: “The message is simple, use it or lose it. We have shown that a service that is good value for money and efficient can be created, but people need to support it otherwise it simply won’t continue.”