A BUS service described as a lifeline for elderly Christchurch residents has been axed and will stop next weekend.

The R4, which runs between Christchurch and Somerford, via Mudeford, has failed to cover its running costs and will be withdrawn by operator Yellow Buses from Saturday September 2.

The cuts will leave residents of Stanpit and parts of Mudeford with no bus service and will leave them isolated and vulnerable, according to a furious family member.

“Once again, the residents have lost their only local transport link to both shops and to medical facilities, now having to resort to infrequent, costly taxi options” she said.

“This is not just a bus - it is a way of socialising with people, of maintaining independence and of getting vital food supplies.”

The woman, whose 88-year-old mother lives in Mudeford, said she believes Yellow Buses should have asked the elderly passengers if they would have been prepared to pay for the service.

“The reason for the cut has been verbally given as lack of income, due to high incidence of free bus pass use on the route, but had the bus company bothered to ask them, they would have found that the bus users are more than happy to pay for a ticket, if this means they have the convenience of an economic regular bus into town and beyond, at least three times a week.

“Surely they should not be penalised due to the failure of a bus pass system actually designed to help them.”

And she said many residents use the service to collect prescriptions.

Paul Wren, commercial director of Yellow Buses, said: “We introduced the R4 service between Christchurch and Somerford, via Mudeford, in January, hoping it would become a successful bus service.

“Previously the route had been subsidised and we felt it had the potential to be commercially viable.

“Disappointingly, it has not carried the number of passengers we were hoping for, and hasn’t covered its running costs.

“Regrettably, therefore, as a commercial bus operator, we have had to withdraw this service.”