THREE students were stunned to be told that the bus service which was to take them to college has been axed.

Amelia Mahoney, Vikki Hall and Pearl Tillyer, all 16, are due to start on the same two-year BTEC art and design course at Wiltshire College in Trowbridge in September.

Amelia, who lives in Bromham, Vikki, of Calne and Pearl, of Quemerford, were planning to travel to college on the number 238 bus which stopped in Bromham and Calne on the way to Melksham and Trowbridge.

But the girls found out two weeks ago that Wiltshire County Council which subsidised the service was changing the service.

From this week the bus service no longer stops in Bromham and Calne.

The girls, both former John Bentley School pupils, face having to catch two buses, as there is no direct bus service from Calne or Bromham to Trowbridge.

Vikki said: "It may stop me going on the course if I can't get alternative travel. My parents will be able to help by driving me there but they won't be able to do that permanently and I don't want to be a burden on them.

"I applied for the course at Trowbridge College because that was the course I wanted to go on.

"I also applied for it because I knew there was a bus that went from Calne to Trowbridge.

"I thought I was all set for college and now it is up in the air. I couldn't believe it when I heard the bus service had been cut. It was so disappointing."

Vikki, who wants to become a dress designer, said she has been granted a bus pass by Wiltshire County Council which entitles her to free travel.

Amelia has also applied for a bus pass and is waiting to hear from the council.

She said: "I was angry when I heard the bus would no longer be running in Bromham.

"My parents are unable to give me a lift to college so I will probably have to catch a bus to Devizes and then catch a bus to Trowbridge which is going to add to my journey time."

She said the council indicated that as Chippenham College was nearer to her home, she ought to consider going there.

She said: "The course at Chippenham is not the same as the one at Trowbridge."

Amelia's father, Keith Mahoney, a parish councillor in Bromham, said: "The bus service ran four or five times a day from Bromham and now we have no direct link with Trowbridge. The county council said the service was being taken off due to lack of use but I feel there would be a need for it, say, once in the morning and once in the evening."

Pearl said: "I was relying on the bus to get me there. I don't know how I am going to get there without the bus. Both my parents work and I'm stuck."

Meanwhile, Calne pensioner Jean Haddrell has expressed her disappointment that the service will no longer run in Calne.

Mrs Haddrell, of Duncan Street, said: "I used the bus about once a month to go shopping to Melksham or Trowbridge. It will be so much more hassle to go to Chippenham and hang around to catch another bus.

"There is so much talk about getting people to use public transport but where is the evidence when they cut services?"

A Wiltshire County Council spokesman said: "The number 238 bus service has been replaced by the 237 which will only run between Trowbridge and Melksham.

"Problems with reliability and extremely low level of passengers using the service between Melksham and stops at Calne and Bromham has unfortunately meant this service could not continue in its current form.

"However, students from these areas who wish to study courses at the Trowbridge campus of Wiltshire College that are not available at Chippenham and who are affected by the changes may be eligible for transport assistance to help them get to lectures, if they can demonstrate that the courses are necessary for their future careers.

"Funding for bus subsidy is limited and the county council has to use this money in a way that will provide the best service possible."

jcrooks@newswilts.co.uk