ANGRY residents are launching a petition calling on a bus company to reverse its decision to re-route a service to the fringe of their estate.

Residents of Acton Dene in East Stanley, say the move will leave the community's pensioners stranded and force pupils from rival schools to catch the bus at the same stop.

Acton Dene Residents' Association chairman Jill Te Aho said residents were up-in-arms over the decision by Go Northeast to change the route of the 702 service 'without any consultation.'

She said: "Where the bus normally comes to the bottom of the estate, it is now going to stop only at the entrance. For anyone who is fit, they can manage the walk to the main road, but it is going to leave pensioners stranded.

"The service is vital to people living in council houses at Penshaw Gardens."

The bus will be re-routed along Sheridan Drive and Chester Road past the entrance to estate from August 21.

Ms Te Aho added there were fears of conflict between pupils of schools with a history of rivalry.

She said: "At the moment Tanfield pupils catch the bus at the bottom of the estate by choice. Now they are going to be forced to catch the bus at the same stop."

Derwentside district councillor Janet Greener said: "Residents fought for years to get the service. "They say there are safety problems with having to turn, but they have been operating the route without any problem for 15 years."

A company spokesman said the revision of services in Gateshead and Derwentside from August 21 included increased frequencies and better links for the majority of users.

He said: "We are seeking growth in passenger numbers in the area to make services stable in the future, and enable us to continue investing in high quality buses to improve accessibility and comfort for passengers, and environmental benefits for the community as a whole.

"With regard to Acton Dene, Stanley, we currently have to use reversing manoeuvres within the estate and due to the increasing size of vehicles for easy access this is deemed not to be safe. We will continue to serve the entrance to the estate with a revised service 702."