GO North East's decision to cancel a 50-year-old bus service from an east Durham village has angered the community.

Yesterday, Easington district councillor Robin Todd criticised the bus company for not consulting residents before cutting the service from South Hetton to South Shields.

Go North East's number 35 service provided the former mining community with easy and direct access to Sunderland.

Now, the company plans to remove the regular and well- used bus and instead extend its 194 service, which runs from Heworth to Easington Lane, and then on to South Hetton.

Commenting on the decision, Councillor Todd, who represents South Hetton, said that as well as the inconvenience, pensioners would no longer be eligible for half-price fares, as their passes were not valid on the 194 route.

He said it would also mean people taking two buses to reach Sunderland.

He said: "The service has been used by local people for over 50 years and we are upset that there has not been a public consultation in order to obtain people's views.

"People have not had the opportunity to voice their opinions on something which directly affects them and it is not acceptable."

A spokesman at Go North East's Gateshead headquarters said that from Saturday, the company would be using the new transport interchange at Hetton.

He said: "Unfortunately, due to increasing traffic congestion and increased running time due to the opening of the interchange, we have had to revise a number of our services."

He said that the service changes were discussed with Durham County Council three months ago and notices had been posted on buses, along with a timetable guide informing customers of the changes.

He confirmed that service 35 had been revised and would no longer operate between Easington and South Shields during the day from Monday to Saturday. But he said customers wishing to travel between South Hetton and Sunderland would still have the half-hourly service on buses 152 and 231.

The spokesman said the number 35 service would continue to operate to and from South Hetton during the evenings and all day on Sundays.

"Durham County Council half-fare passes will continue to be valid between these points and also on the extended service 194, providing the customer's journey starts or finishes in County Durham," he said.