An elderly couple are considering moving house after losing their town’s bus service.

Adrian Robinson and his wife Joanna, both 62-year-old Lyme Regis residents, have been left disappointed after the number 71 bus service ended.

As reported by the News in July, the number 71 - used by both the elderly and schoolchildren - came under threat when Dorset Council ended its school transport contract with operator Damory with its future uncertain.

The bus was linked to the school bus service for Charmouth Primary, running as a town bus service from the Charmouth Close area calling at stops including the Woodroffe School, Lyme Medical Centre and The Cobb in between school drop-off and pick-up times.

The number 71 bus service in Lyme Regis on its final day of serviceThe number 71 bus service in Lyme Regis on its final day of service (Image: Adrian Robinson)

Dorset Council awarded the school bus contract to Dorset Community Transport, which meant the town bus service ended on August 31.

Mr Robinson, who used the service several times a week for shopping in town, called the bus ‘extremely useful’ and the couple were placed in their flat in Queen's Walk where they live because of its proximity to their nearest bus stop at King's Way.

Adrian and Joanna Robinson from Lyme RegisAdrian and Joanna Robinson from Lyme Regis (Image: Adrian Robinson)

Mrs Robinson has had two hip replacements, leaving Mr Robinson to carry heavy bags of shopping, which he often struggles with due to being visually impaired with poor mobility.

The couple say they will now have to walk half a mile walk to get the X51 or X53 bus services.

Mr Robinson said: “We have very seriously looked at moving because daily living has become so difficult here. We have to go to Axminster or Bridport to just use a bank- it’s quite painful, literally.

“We’ve been left with nothing and being at the bottom of the valley makes trips hard.

“We spoke to an awful lot of residents on the final day the service was in operation, and some are considering buying a mobility scooter as they can’t even walk about town.

“We’ve lost three bus services in 11 years, we used to be linked with Poole and Exeter, and see buses run from 6am through to 9pm. Now we have a half a mile walk to get the X51 or X53, as that’s all we have left.”

Such is the problem of infrastructure in the town that Mr Robinson said it once took him eight hours to get to Bridport hospital and back as no taxis would drive that far out, with the couple having to wait three hours for a bus.

Lyme Regis Town Council has previously said it is continuing to do everything it can to find a replacement service.