BUS service cuts and changes on routes to Yarm, Kirklevington, Hutton Rudby and Stokesley have been criticised by passengers and councillors.

Arriva has been condemned for cutting late afternoon and evening services, and for not advertising the changes.

A local authority has been attacked, too, after claims that a telephone information service contained obsolete timetables and a "phantom service".

Yarm and Hutton Rudby councillors have voiced their frustration with the bus system, describing it as disgraceful.

Speaking at Yarm Town Council recently, Coun Bob Stevenson said: "Since the last alterations, I've had a number of comments about the disgraceful evening service. People who used to get the bus from Yarm High Street to estates like Willey Flats no longer do. There is no bus past Yarm station in the evening and there's nothing from Kirklevington at all."

He had written to Arriva but had had no response.

"Yarm is getting a bad service from Arriva and the public transport system. We're trying to get people to used buses and trains, but the service is not being provided."

He said there were also problems with Arriva trains.

"The new winter train timetable is now operating, but the 8.59am service from Yarm to Thornaby and Middlesbrough never arrives."

The service calls at York, Thirsk and Northallerton before reaching Yarm.

Meanwhile, councillors at Hutton Rudby have criticised the bus changes and called on North Yorkshire County Council to examine Arriva's operations.

Coun Irene MacDonald told the latest meeting that useful late afternoon and evening services to Yarm, Teesside and Stokesley were cut with no publicity. There was uncertainty about another tea-time service to Northallerton.

She had received a copy of a letter written by resident Alice Barrigan, of Drumrauch, to Arriva and North Yorkshire County Council, which subsidises some services and recommends the Travel Line transport information telephone service to passengers.

She said: "Mrs Barrigan is dismayed at the alterations and cuts to the buses. The last bus from Stokesley to Hutton Rudby now appears to depart at 4pm. A previous service left Stokesley at 5.15 and was very useful for workers, shoppers and schoolchildren who attend after-school activities."

In addition, she said there was no trace of a Stokesley to Hutton Rudby and Northallerton bus at 6.35pm. And the last bus from Middlesbrough to Hutton Rudby, via Yarm, now departed at 5.45.

"Arriva has cut services without letting anyone know. Is it not supposed to inform people, including the county council?

"It's pathetic. The Travel Line has obsolete timetables. It is duff. And bus stops have wrong timetables displayed."

The D&S Times asked Arriva for comment but received no response.