The head of a transport users' group has criticised festive scheduling by the area's two major bus operators.

Derek Monnery, who is chairman of the Manningtree Rail Users' Association, said the closure of services for four days and the running of a Sunday schedule on four others over the Christmas and New Year period would lead to "an awful lot of hardship for an awful lot of people".

He said: "If you haven't got a car, you're totally isolated unless you get a taxi. Mainly poor people or the less well-off are not going to be able to afford it.

"How are you going to visit relatives in hospital over Christmas? Are you going to have to walk up Turner Rise from the station? The elderly might not be able to do that."

Mr Monnery added: "A comprehensive transport system is unattainable without buses."

The Sunday schedule has only a few buses running on routes which pay for themselves.

Derek Trotman, operations director of First Eastern National, said: "This is the level of service experience has shown us we can afford to run.

"The service is very similar to other years. The only difference is the extra Bank holidays."

David Shadbolt, spokesman for Arriva, which runs buses in Colchester, said the company had "few people wishing to travel" around Christmas and New Year.

He added: "This level of service is arrived at after careful discussions with Essex County Council, which supports services at this time of year."

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