A POPULAR weekend bus service between Durham and the Lake District is to be stopped, depriving people of a day trips and holiday transport link.

Every Saturday morning in the summer for the past few years Arriva's x85 bus has left Durham bus station for Kendal, picking up dozens of passengers on its route through Wear Valley and Weardale.

For hikers, families, the elderly and disabled as well as people who cannot drive, it has proved a popular route across the Pennines to Alston, Penrith and other towns.

The decision to drop the service was condemned by travellers and parish councillors in Weardale yesterday.

The chairman of Stanhope Parish Council, Councillor Diana Sutcliff, called for a rethink.

She said: "It is ironic that the principal solution put forward to compensate for the loss of mainstream jobs such as the cement works at Eastgate is more tourism. Yet here is an established tourism facility being axed.

"Better publicity and tourism grants ought to be considered before the axe falls."

Regular passenger Tony Elton, 67, from Witton Gilbert, near Durham, finds inspiration for his musical compositions from his journeys across the Pennines.

He said: "Several of my pieces were inspired on that bus. It is just marvellous for me.

"The bus holds 30 to 35 people and last season it was almost full every Saturday I went on it. Arriva have admitted it is not a financial issue."

The company's North-East managing director, Steve Noble, said: "Arriva North-East has decided to concentrate on providing services within our region during the summer months, rather than providing links between our region and other parts of the country.

"Whilst we recognise that a few individuals may feel they do not benefit from this decision, we believe it is in the majority of our customers' interests."