A bus service between Oswestry and Ellesmere will cease to run after September, causing concern for residents who "depend" on the service.

Tanat Valley's 449 service which starts in Oswestry calls at places including Drenewydd, Whittington, Babbins Wood and Welsh Frankton before stopping at Cross Street in Ellesmere.

From September 3, the service will stop running following a contact with Shropshire Council. However, the service to and from Marches School will still continue.

A statement on Tanat Valley's website states: "We regret to inform you that following the loss of an associated Shropshire Council local bus service contract, we are unable to continue sustaining the financial loss which we incur from operating the 449 service which is not subsidised.

"We are sorry to say that we will finish operating the journeys to and from Ellesmere from September 3.

"Shropshire Council has been informed and can, if they so choose, seek a replacement service. The morning and afternoon journeys to and from the Marches School will continue as normal.

"We thank all our regular passengers for their support over the three decades we have operated this service."

Despite Arriva Buses still operating route 53 from Oswestry to Ellesmere, calling at Gobowen and Ifton Heath, the service does not call in at Whittington and Gillian Roberts, secretary of Whittington Senior Citizens Club, is worried that many non-drivers will face difficulty.

"This will cause difficulty for non-drivers to attend Oswestry or Ellesmere, doctors surgeries, dentist, banks, shopping.

"I am secretary of Whittington Senior Citizens' Club, and the majority of our members depend on the 449 service.

"There is Arriva's 53 service which goes through Gobowen and St Martins, but not Whittington.

"But the 449 Ellesmere to Oswestry is ideal as it passes the Orthopaedic Hospital and is handy for appointments for non-drivers."

James Willocks, Shropshire Council’s transport commissioning manager, said: “The decision to withdraw this commercial service by Tanat Valley was one taken by themselves for commercial reasons. We understand that a local operator is looking to provide a replacement service, and details on this will follow in the coming days.”