A GROUP of elderly people are angry and upset after the cancellation of a bus route that they depend on for their weekly shop.

The X6 bus used to run every Friday between Telscombe and the Holmbush Shopping Centre in Shoreham.

The service, run by Compass Travel, only ran once a week and was especially popular with elderly residents in Sussex who relied on the route in order to do their shopping.

The service was cancelled last Friday, leaving some residents without a way to get to the shops.

Sandra Loughead, 73, who lives in Mile Oak, was a regular on the bus who now has to find other ways to get her shopping done.

She said: “The bus driver told us two weeks ago [a week before the service cancellation] that the service was being cancelled.

“I’m very upset. It’s a lifeline for us.

“I’ve had cancer twice in the last two years and my husband, Thomas, is 80 and on crutches.

“I can shop online but a lot of the other women on the bus can’t do that.

“There’s no other way some of us can do shopping.”

Another Mile Oak resident, 72 year old Leslie Jackson, who uses the bus regularly, said it is sad to see the it go.

“When I first started using the bus I didn’t know it was the X6 social club.

“They’re a lovely group of people and they made me feel instantly welcome.

“It’s been lovely taking the bus. I’ve really enjoyed the last year with these people.

“Even if I didn’t have any shopping to do I’d get on the bus to see everyone.”

The residents have written to MP Peter Kyle regarding the issue, and the Hove representative says that he shares the disappointment of his constituents.

In an email to Leslie, shared with The Argus, a statement from Mr Kyle’s team said: “Peter is really disappointed to hear the company plans to end this service, and that this will negatively impact you and the other residents who rely on this bus to do their shopping.”

Leslie contacted Compass Travel for a response as to the cancellation of the service.

In an email to Compass, Leslie said: “These are people who do not have access to a computer, nor would know know how to use one and even if they were to order via a home delivery service.

“The withdrawal of this service would rob them of their only realistically achievable outing to shop among friends and friends we all are.”

In a response to Leslie, seen by The Argus, Compass Travel’s managing director Chris Chatfield said: “Hi Leslie. I am just as sad as you that this service is being discontinued as I realise it is a lifeline for people... but it is a service operated under contract to Tesco and quite simply they have cancelled the contract for the X6 route and withdrawn the funding.

“If Tesco are not willing to pay for it we cannot run the service and if we were to charge a fare we would need around £12 per passenger to make it viable which people are obviously not going to pay.

A statement from Tesco said: “We have made the difficult decision to stop the provision of the X4 and X6 bus services to our Shoreham Extra store. Unfortunately the services are under-used and make a loss.

“Our priority has been to ensure our customers who use these bus routes are aware of our decision and of all alternative routes in the area so that they are able to plan their journeys.

“We will continue to run the free X2 bus service from Billingshurst, the X3 from Burgess Hill and the X5 from Littlehampton.”