A BUS service connecting Farnham, Elstead and Guildford has changed hands for second time in a month after Surrey County Council terminated its contract with Countryliner.

Having only switched to Countryliner in September, operation of the number 46 service between Aldershot and Guildford has returned to Stagecoach after the former company went into administration.

The council says it has terminated its contract with Countryliner "to safeguard the interests of the travelling public".

It added all the former Countryliner services, including the 46 service, will be continued with the current routes and timetables.

In addition, school bus passes and season tickets purchased from Countryliner will be accepted by the new operators until their expiry, without further charge.

However, it is unclear whether Stagecoach will remedy several unpopular changes to the 46 service made by Countryliner.

Speaking after Countryliner took over the number 46 service in September, Elstead parish councillor Pat Murphy said: "The cost for students has gone up by 50 per cent, the bus has been late every morning by about 20 minutes and the last bus back from Guildford has been moved back from 5.30pm to 5.15pm, which means people working in Guildford have to leave work early to catch the last bus and five people have been directed affected by that.

"The quality and standard of the service provided by Countryliner is very much inferior to Stagecoach. Elstead is a village of 3,000 people and our only link is the bus service 46 so it's a very important aspect of village life."