Why was our bus service stopped?

Fifty members of the Wednesday Club, which meets every week at Bettws day centre, in Newport, say they have no idea why the bus which has ferried them to the club for the last three years was cancelled.

And those involved with the charity which runs the service, Bettws in Bloom, appear to be in conflict over the reasons.

The chairman will only confirm the service has stopped, while the secretary says the bus has now broken down and can't be used anyway.

In the meantime the pensioners say they have no idea how they will be able to continue with their social gathering, where they spend the day chatting and playing bingo.

Mo Jones, chairwoman of the Wednesday Club, said: "It's just a real shame for the elderly people who don't have many ways of socialising.

"We've heard a few different reasons why it stopped, but nothing certain, and Bettws in Bloom just said they were sorry but there was nothing they could do."

Gwen Wootton, 95, is the oldest member of the club.

She says it is impossible for her to get to the club without a lift.

And Dolly Sutton, 86, from Malpas, said she would now have to catch two buses to get to the club.

She said: "It's too difficult to get there now. It's very disappointing, it used to be lovely catching that bus with everyone."

Colin Baker, secretary of Bettws in Bloom, said the bus was completely out of action after it broke down last weekend. He said: "Since Sunday no one has been able to use it because it's in a garage."

Nobby Woodcock, chairman of the charity, used to drive the bus for the senior citizens.

He said: "It was our choice to stop the bus. We were giving them a service and now we can't.

"We're making no comment whatsoever on why the bus was stopped."

But local councillor Noel Trigg claims the bus was still being used by other groups around the area.

"Why hit the senior citizens? They are the one group that really and truly need the help," he said.