Passenger numbers have soared following the expansion of a taxi-bus service.

Concerns had been raised after the D5 bus service between Burnham and South Woodham Ferrers was axed when Essex County Council signed a new contact, which came into effect on August 26.

The service was replaced by a six-day-a-week on-demand service, DaRT 5, run by Arrow Taxis and serving the villages of Althorne, North Fambridge, Cold Norton and Stow Maries.

The service doubled its number of journeys in its second month in operation.

In September, the firm did 239 journeys, compared with 532 in October.

Arrow Taxis hope to soon be in a position to create new jobs if the trend continues.