A new bus route is launching connecting Livingston with Glasgow and Edinburgh Airport.

The route will provide important replacement links for local bus services that have been withdrawn in recent years.

The new Scottish Citylink service 902 will operate hourly, connecting Glasgow, Bargeddie, Coatbridge, Airdrie, Chapelhall, Harthill, Heartlands, Livingston and Edinburgh Airport, starting on March 6.

It was welcomed by MSP Angela Constance. She said: “Livingston and West Lothian is a great place to live and work but our communities really value good public transport connections both to the east and the west.”

Scottish Citylink Operation Director Simone Smith added: “This new route is great news for our customers between Livingston and Monklands and Glasgow or Edinburgh Airport.”

The service will operate from 5.15am until 11.05pm, allowing people to get to and from work and the airport.

A day return ticket to Glasgow starts at £3.50 from Coatbridge, £4 from Airdrie and £10 from Livingston.

The standard under-22 free bus travel will still apply to the service with a valid NEC or Young Scot NEC.