The 205 bus service run by Delaine Buses that links Wittering to Stamford and Peterborough, will end on Friday, December 20

A bus service linking villages to Stamford and Peterborough will be scrapped next month.

The 205 bus service, run by Delaine Buses, that connects Wittering, Wansford, Castor and Ailsworth with Stamford and Peterborough is to end on Friday, December 20.

Read more: Residents rally against changes to bus service.

Coun Richard Roffe, chairman of Wittering Parish Council, said: "We are totally against it and we are very annoyed."

He added he would be able to say more after the parish council meeting on Thursday, November 28.

Delaine Buses said in a statement: "We regret to announce the withdrawal of our 205 Stamford-Wittering-Peterborough service.

"The last day of operation will be Friday, December 20 2019.

"When we took the route over on a commercial basis in October 2018, following the withdrawal of the previous operator, we anticipated the route would need to be rationalised as they were the second operator to withdraw from the route in seven years.

"A rationalised service deploying one bus was introduced in January 2019 and was initially sustainable, but over recent months the level of patronage has been in continual decline.

"It is clear there is not enough support to maintain the current level of service and we cannot continue to absorb the heavy operating losses being incurred.

"Delaine services 201 and 202 are available as an alternative service for travel between Stamford and Peterborough.

"A replacement Call Connect service is being introduced by Peterborough City Council to maintain a service from the intermediate villages with a fixed timetable at peak time between Wittering and Peterborough and a demand responsive service at other times.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have supported the 205 during the last 14 months.

" If more had done so, this outcome would not have arisen."

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