THOUSANDS of workers and students could be left out in the cold if county council officials axe their evening buses. They are furious over a cost-cutting plan to scrap and 10 and 10A evening and Sunday services between Cambridge and Newmarket which serve

THOUSANDS of workers and students could be left out in the cold if county council officials axe their evening buses.

They are furious over a cost-cutting plan to scrap and 10 and 10A evening and Sunday services between Cambridge and Newmarket which serve the villages of Burwell, Bottisham, Reach, Lode, Swaffham Bulbeck and Swaffham Prior.

"This will have a devastating effect on residents, especially younger ones," said Dr Bob Stevens, Liberal Democrat district councillor for Bottisham. "Many may be forced to move out of the district and into Cambridge."

He claims the loss of the Sunday services would hit visitors to Anglesey Abbey and the area between Lode and Burwell, being developed as part of the Wicken Vision.

He called on the county council to save the evening services by making them more frequent.

"The improvement of the daytime service a few years ago has been remarkable, but was done partly at the expense of the evening services," he added. "Making them hourly in the evenings would improve their popularity generally."

Now villagers are signing a petition urging the county council to save the services.

Liberal Democrat district and county councillor, Hazel Williams, who represents Burwell, said: "Over 10,000 people in the east of the county will have no access to public transport if the county council cut all evening and Sunday buses. The axing of the 6.30pm bus, in particular, will prevent some workers and students from returning home by bus even though they are able to use the half-hourly service during the day to get to Cambridge and Newmarket."

Reach worker, Rebecca Aves travels to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge and studies part time at the city's Anglia Ruskin University.

Her only transport is the number 10 bus which the county council plans to withdraw after 6pm.

"This causes me a very large problem because some of my lectures do not finish until 7pm or 8pm." She said. "Also if I miss my connection when I finish work then I have no way of getting home."

Bottisham traveller, and former district councilor, Valerie Leake has added her voice to the protests.

She said: "The county council has done a great deal to improve the image of

public transport over the last few years and it would be a shame to

tarnish that reputation."

Councillors from both sides of the political fence have rallied to support their residents - Conservative David Brown, who represents Burwell, wrote to the Ely Standard last week voicing his objection to the plans.

A spokesperson from Cambridgeshire County Council said: