Contractors Arriva North West have scrapped the 289 evening bus, which connects Pickmere with Northwich, Knutsford and Altrincham.

Instead, villagers who work in Manchester will now have to get a train to Northwich, and then catch an Arriva bus, bound for Pickmere, at Northwich station.

One passenger, Colin Sproston, said it would cost him up to £15 a week more.

"I just can't understand the mentality behind it," he said. "The Government is encouraging us to use public transport, and yet here we are crying out to do so, but they aren't letting us."

Bus regulators, who recently blocked a move by Arriva to cancel more Pickmere services, blame the change on falling numbers. "This service is not usually carrying more than two or three people," said transport co-ordinator Trevor Dobson.

But Mr Sproston said that shouldn't matter.

"The Government's plan to get us on to public transport should stand regardless of how many people use a service.

"The two or three people who use the 289 are making a difference."

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