Minor changes will be introduced to journey times on two Rutland bus services this month to improve travel options for local school and college students.

The Rutland Flyer 2 (RF2) early morning service between Melton Mowbray and Oakham, Monday to Friday, will be changing on Monday 20 September.

From that date, the first departure of the day from Melton will be retimed from 6.50 a.m.to leave at the slightly later time of 7.00 a.m.

This school day service will operate 10 minutes later throughout the journey via Burley Park Way and Barleythorpe Road into John Street in Oakham, arriving at 8.00 a.m.

The current 8.00 a.m. departure from Oakham will also operate 10 minutes later throughout the journey, leaving Oakham at 8.10 a.m.

Rutland Council says this will provide a better service to students by ensuring they arrive at their destination in good time, prior to school starting. Parents of students who use the service have been contacted individually with an updated timetable.

Other passengers can access the timetable on the Centrebus website at: www.centrebus.info, on Twitter @CentrebusLive or by telephone: 0844 351 1120.

The timetable for the Service 12 operated by Bland's between Stamford and Uppingham will also see some minor changes from Monday 27 September.

One morning and one afternoon service will be altered to leave five minutes earlier; the first journey from Stamford to Uppingham departing Stamford Bus Station at 7.30 a.m. and the return service in the middle of the afternoon starting at 3.30 p.m. from Uppingham Community College.

Again, this change is intended to help students travelling to and from school or college on this route and families have been provided with an updated timetable.

Service 12 timetable information can also be found the operator's website at: www.blands.info, or by emailing [email protected] or calling: 01780 751671

meanwhile, Rutland County Council is continuing to seek feedback on plans to bus services across Rutland, by asking residents of all ages to take part in a survey running until Sunday 26 September.

All the feedback and findings will contribute to a Bus Service Improvement Plan that is being developed by the County Council in collaboration with bus operators.

The survey is available online at future.rutland.gov.uk/bus-service-improvement-plan.

Anyone without internet access who would like to take part can email [email protected] or call 01572 722577 to request a paper copy.