A MUCH-LOVED service for children in Uttlesford that was in danger of being scrapped due to a lack of funding has been saved. Thanks to fund-raising, a turnaround by Essex County Council and generous sponsorship, Buffy Bus will be able to continue to prov

A MUCH-LOVED service for children in Uttlesford that was in danger of being scrapped due to a lack of funding has been saved.

Thanks to fund-raising, a turnaround by Essex County Council and generous sponsorship, Buffy Bus will be able to continue to provide children in the district with a fun place to play and learn.

Project manager Rosie Juhl said the bus would carry on thanks to "a lot of hard work" and that "the support of parents has been phenomenal, everyone has been wanting to help".

She said: "The county council realised if they lost us they would be shooting themselves in the foot, so they've come up with a package to enable us to continue running our five-days-a-week service.

Estate agent Inter County also stepped in to provide sponsorship - the first of six cheques was presented to the Buffy Bus team yesterday (Wednesday).

Jan Mennell, chairman and one of the founders of Buffy Bus, said the generosity of many other people and organisations had also been invaluable in the salvation of the service.

"We would like to state our grateful thanks to the Fowler, Smith and Jones Charitable Trusts of Chelmsford, Stansted and Hatfield Heath Parish Councils, Ridgeons of Saffron Walden and Cambridge, the Rotary Club of Dunmow, the Rotary Club of Saffron Walden, Chrishall Bowls Club and many more organisations.

"Thanks also go to our service users and our friends who have been so supportive at this very difficult time," she said.

Janette Yildirm, a carer involved with Buffy Bus, also played a big part by raising more than £1,100 by sitting in a bath of baked beans for four hours.

To ensure its existence users will be charged a small fee for play sessions. Sometimes this may be waived. To support Buffy e-mail rosie.juhl@btconnect.com