ANGRY villagers say they are being isolated from York by a "useless" bus service.

Residents at Naburn have reacted with fury at the decision to scrap the special number 42 Arriva bus service which took teenagers to York College and back every day.

They also say that the last bus from York to Naburn goes at 7pm, which leaves youngsters stranded in the village and older residents with little chance to enjoy the city nightlife.

Mother-of-two Anne Stacey, 51, a project manager, from Naburn, said one of her children used the college bus to get to Millthorpe School.

She said: "Now I have to take my daughter to school every day, which is not always possible. Our teenagers also like to go out and come back without being run around by their parents all over the place.

"I also quite like to go out into York and not have to drive. The council is supposed to be encouraging people to use public transport. They just don't acknowledge we are here because Naburn is right on the edge of the York boundary."

Sally Lewis said the bus was vital to get her children to York College and back.

She said: "We can't believe it has been scrapped completely. We would use the bus if it was running regularly."

North Yorkshire County Council stopped the Arriva college bus run as part of changes to its A19 service, but transport bosses said it was not their responsibility as Naburn was in the City of York Council catchment area.

A county council spokesman said students could get on an alternative bus to the college further up the A19.

"Our primary concern is for people who live in North Yorkshire," he said. "We are happy to work with York council, but they don't see it as a particular problem."

A spokeswoman for City of York Council said: "We are aware of the situation and are liaising with North Yorkshire County Council and Arriva."

An Arriva spokeswoman said: "Arriva operated a link between Naburn and York College under contract to North Yorkshire County Council. That contract is no longer offered by the local authority and, as a result, the service no longer operates."

Updated: 10:11 Tuesday, May 03, 2005