Lonely rider

Stoke-on-Trent's 'bus revolution' is well under way, with two new D&G services hitting the streets this month.

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One is the number 96, connecting Newchapel, Packmoor, Tunstall and Middleport. According to the city council, a bus hasn't operated in the centre of Middleport for more than 10 years, and it hopes this new route can help make getting around the city easier and more affordable. Sentinel reporter THOMAS COOPER caught a ride to see for himself how it's being received

I arrived at the new service's first stop, in Angel's Way, opposite Baskeyfield House Retirement Community, at 11.30am, unsure what to expect. Central Middleport might not have had a bus service for more than a decade, but whether that's for good reason remained to be seen. Things didn't get off to a great start. There were no other passengers queuing for the bus, and when the midday bus arrived it flew right past me - leaving me stuck waiting for the next scheduled pick-up one hour later.