MERRY Hill shoppers upset about the loss of benches at the shopping centre can now rest easy after bosses at the intu mall promised a u-turn.

Elderly shoppers would occupy the benches outside the Matalan store while waiting for buses to areas including the New Farm estate and Amblecote Road in Stourbridge.

One News reader from Stamford Road in Stambermill said: "Sometimes you can wait for up to 15 minutes, if not longer for a bus to arrive and some people were finding it quite difficult.

"Quite a number of people had sticks and relied on the benches for a rest before catching their bus.

"I made an inquiry at the information desk and was told the seating had been removed because of anti-social behaviour."

Merry Hill has now responded and Kay Starkey, guest services manager, said: "We temporarily removed the seating from the area near the bus station as part of a wider seating review.

"We are always eager to hear from our shoppers and respond to their feedback. I'm pleased to say we will be reinstating some of the seating back into this area in the coming weeks."