THREE girls hope to give a voice to villages that could be left without public transport by campaigning against proposed bus cuts.

Caitlin Brennan, Anna Renfrew and Anisha Harris were horrified last week when Arriva announced plans to withdraw some services from Teesdale, County Durham.

They have mounted a petition calling on the company and Durham County Council to maintain services for rural communities and already have 500 signatories.

From January, Arriva will no longer operate the 95 and 96 services leaving Mickleton, Romaldkirk, Cotherstone and Lartington without any public transport.

The 84 and 85 service will stop running between Barnard Castle and Darlington, via Evenwood and Cockfield.

Caitlin, Anna and Anisha, all 15 and pupils of Teesdale School in Barnard Castle, say the threatened services are vital for people of all ages in remote communities.

Caitlin, from Cotherstone, said: "We want to show that we passionately care about our communities, will fight for them and hope there is a chance, however slight, that we can make a difference."

They fear many pupils will not be able to attend sixth form because they rely on buses into Barnard Castle or Darlington and others will drop after school classes or clubs.

Elderly people will struggle to get to medical appointments and a valuable social lifeline to old and young will be lost, they say.

Anisha, from Bowes, said: "This such a rural area you need to make the most of your independence, without access to sixth form young people’s prospects change and being isolated in a village makes the move to university or work even bigger."

Anna, from Cotherstone, said supporters have indicated they would be prepared to pay greater fares if it meant services surviving.

She added: "People outside the villages will also feel the impact upon them, less people travelling into town means businesses will suffer."

Arriva has blamed low passenger numbers and increased running costs but the trio feel a compromise is possible.

Caitlin said: "Surely a morning and night run, around school and work hours, could be saved. Sometimes the buses are really full so it must make economic sense to keep them."

On Wednesday morning the girls will present the petition to Durham County Council’s cabinet, which is meeting at The Bowes Museum, and hope to persuade members to help.

John Fozzard, from Arriva, said: "We are currently in discussion with Durham County Council to see if there is any other way services can be retained or changed to make them commercially viable to operate."

Adrian White, head of transport at the county council, said: "We are currently assessing the impact of Arriva's changes and considering whether, in light of our reduced funds, it is possible for the county council to take any action to reduce the impact this will have on communities."