FURIOUS villagers in Burton packed out a parish council meeting to express their disappointment over the axing of their bus route by Wilts and Dorset.

The villagers met with parish councillors at the Oak in Burton to discuss the axing of the X12 bus route, which was announced by the local bus company last month.

An impromptu petition, which was started by a resident in response to the controversial decision, has already collected more than 200 signatures from angry bus-users.

Chairperson of Burton Parish Council Judy Jamieson said: “To see all these people here, so fired up by this issue, is unique. It is unfortunate it has to be over something so frustrating, but people are upset and angry.

“The bus company may say that the route does not carry enough people but the petition we have here from people, not just elderly people but mums and teenagers, just goes to show that they are wrong,” she said.

“People are very worried, not just about how they will get about, into work and to important appointments, but also about how the decision will affect property prices, for instance.”

She added: “Christchurch Borough Council are incensed by this decision and they are working with Dorset County Council to ensure that there is a replacement service provided.

“They have assured us there will be. It is just a question of details now.”

Ward councillors David Flagg and Colin Jamieson are so concerned about the situation that they are urging Dorset County Council to find a solution to the problem.

Chris Harris from Wilts and Dorset said: “If all these people who have signed the petition used the buses then we would not be in this situation.

“The situation is quite simply that the X12 journeys to Burton are not carrying enough people to be financially viable.

“We have no alternative other than to withdraw them; we cannot go on indefinitely running them at a loss.”