FRESH calls have been made to reinstate a bus service in an area of Wrexham where elderly residents are "left stranded".

The Leader reported in April of last year about the axing of the Arriva number 42 town centre service encompassing Hightown - where there is a large elderly community residing in the Stockwell Grove area.

Their nearest bus route to take them to the town centre is more than a 10 minute walk away, something that leaves some residents "stranded" in their homes.

Residents and local councillors have been fighting to have some form of a bus service reinstated, but they say their calls have so far fallen on deaf ears.

One of those is 73-yer-old Peter Francis, who said: "There are a lot of elderly people in this area who are frankly fed up of being left hung out to dry.

"Walking 10 minutes to the nearest bus stop might not sound far, but when you're elderly and you're carrying bags full of shopping it's a killer.

"Many residents have to rely on taxis but they're costing up to £8 - meaning a lot of people can only afford one once a week."

Cllr Graham Rogers, of the Hermitage Ward, has been campaigning alongside residents to have a service reinstated.

He said: "I'm so disappointed with the situation, and I feel so sorry for people who rely on the buses.

"Since April last year, many of the residents in Hightown - particularly those living on Stockwell Grove - have been left isolated.

"At a time when loneliness amongst elderly people is sky-rocketing, this simply isn't acceptable."

Cllr Rogers pledges to continue the fight for another bus service for the area, but admits the situation is currently looking bleak.

He said: "There appears to be no light at the end of the tunnel.

"Wrexham Council isn't in a position to be able subsidise a service, and Arriva withdrew it service as it wasn't making them enough money."

Councillor David A Bithell, deputy leader of Wrexham Council and lead member for Environment & Transport, said: "Cllr Rodgers is fully aware of what the council's position is, the Labour Led Council reduced the Transport budget by £495k in 2012 which the council has never fully recoved from, which also included the demise of some bus companies locally.

"We are of course working with the Welsh Govenment and Transport for Wales, looking at options including demand responsive transport options.

"The recent financial difficulties all local authorities have been in has meant that we have needed to continue our limited budget supporting as many bus services as we can, but most bus services are run on a commercial basis with no subsidy and its down to the operator not the council.

"We continue to review all services for cost effectiveness and will later be presenting scrunity committee with an update on the current position, both locally and regionally."