A community bus service will be withdrawn early next year, leaving hundreds of people unable to get around town.

The Halstead Hoppa bus, which operates up to nine hourly services a day, will cease on January 18.

The 44 bus was launched in 2009 by Halstead based Florida Coaches and was taken over by Turners of Essex in March 2014.

Trevor Attwater, of Turners of Essex, said: “Because we have not had much advertising a lot of people didn’t know about it.

“It is working but it’s not good enough and without help from the council we will have to withdraw it."

Mr Attwater said the bus, which picks up at 23 stops around the town, caters for about 80 to 100 customers a day and charges £1 for adults, with concessions.

See this week's Gazette for the full story.