A COUNCILLOR is calling for ideas to help replace a bus service that would leave "hundreds" of passengers cut off.

Ben Shirley wants to find a way to stop elderly residents in Askam, Kirkby and Millom being cut off from the community when the #7 bus service stops running at the end of the week.

Cllr Shirley, who represents Dalton North on Cumbria County Council, said it was "vital" that passengers had public transport to travel between towns to shop and attend appointments.

He said: "Many of the people who use this bus those with bus passes and would otherwise have to pay for a train.

"They need this bus.

"Many residents have rightly stopped me in the street and written to me about this, expressing their genuine concerns at the loss of our bus."

He said the process to replace the service offered by the bus would be slow.

"It will take time," he said, "but be assured I am not going to let this drop."

One option is to make use of Cumbria County Council's Rural Wheels, a door-to-door community transport scheme for people without access to scheduled services.

Mr Shirley is also discussing setting up a "Friends of the #7 bus" group involving residents and councillors to talk through concerns.

Stagecoach's contract for the bus will finish at the end of the school year. The company said it would otherwise not be cost-effective to run the bus.

One Askam resident, 85-year-old Lawrence Baines said he and other passengers faced being "cut off" when the bus service stops running.

"Something absolutely needs to be done or these people are going to be cut off from the outside world," Mr Baines said.

"I'm here to stand up for a bus-full of people, elderly people who have no transport or support network, and say this is not fair and someone needs to do something about it."