Sir, – I was very relieved to read in Beryl Bank`s letter (D&S Times, Feb 20) that the Northallerton bus service to James Cook Hospital is only a trial run until March and hope her husband has fully recovered and she has no further use for it.

However, the withdrawal of the Abbott`s 80 through Hutton Rudby to make way for the Express 80 to Middlesbrough has been a lifeline withdrawn for the non-drivers and elderly of this village , the previous passengers of the 80. Perhaps not many in daily numbers but weekly regulars nevertheless.

We had a 9.25am, 80 service to Stokesley with a return service at 11.50am, a perfect 90 minutes to visit the variety of shops on Stokesley High Street, or to attend an appointment at the dentist or optician, visit the library or importantly in this age of worry over the isolation and loneliness of the elderly in rural communities, meet up with friends for coffee. I know of people in their 80s and 90s, unable to do any of this now.

Freedom and independence is driving your own car but when that has gone, having at least one decently timetabled daily bus service becomes that freedom. This is particularly so if your village has lost in recent years its bank, greengrocer, butcher and garage petrol pump. You have to travel out of the village; there is no choice.

Our revised timetable to facilitate the Express 80, is now an 11am service returning 11 minutes later or returning 4 hours later at 3.05pm.

No one can do much in 11 minutes or stretch it to 4 hours whatever their age.

Swainby, Ingleby Cross and Osmotherley have an hourly service where for most of the day you don`t see a soul at a bus stop. The 9am or 10 am service is the popular choice by all the outlying villages including ours.

When NYCC have their deliberations about the service , please tweak it slightly to re-instate our user friendly 9.25 service. It would be of immense value to the quality of life of those who need it.

VALERIE METCALFE

Hutton Rudby.