A VILLAGE is to lose its evening and Sunday bus services in the new year because of a loss of subsidies.

The number 12 service between Darlington and Middleton St George, which is run by Scarlet Band, via a council subsidy, during evenings and Sundays, will be axed in January.

Colin Catterick, 63, who uses the bus every Friday, said the changes had been made without consultation.

He said: "I think it's ludicrous. They are taking our freedom away. There are a lot of people who use it to get back from work, or pensioners who want it on a Sunday.

"You pay your rates and I believe Middleton St George pays one of the highest in the area, so we end up subsidising the rest of Darlington. I think the council will have to find some money and stop something else. They have to keep this bus running."

He also plans to speak to Middleton St George ward councillor Doris Jones, who said she would investigate the loss of the service.

Although she knew of the loss of subsidy, she added she was unaware of the final decision.

Coun Jones said: "In the evening it affects young people who cannot get into Darlington to go to the likes of the Dolphin Centre.We keep talking about the One Darlington Perfectly Placed project, but we are cut off. You are forced into a car out here when the public transport is so poor."

A council spokeswoman said consultation took part earlier this year as part of subsidised routes across the borough.

She added: "Further to cuts in Government funding which require us to make cuts in public spending of up to 25 per cent over the next four years, the subsidy for supported bus services was reduced by £100,000 per year, in March 2011.

"As part of this reduction in subsidy, a market research exercise was undertaken to understand community needs. This involved two Talking Together events and three workshops with disabled people, parish councils and older people.

"In addition to this, more than 480 users of supported bus services were interviewed and self-completion forms and travel diary questionnaires were completed as part of a Disability Impact Assessment."

She added the cabinet group decided to withdraw subsidies for evenings and Sunday services from next January as a result of the consultation but said Arriva was making changes to its services at the same time, which would include the re-introduction of a commercial Sunday service.