A "LIFELINE" bus service will not run through a Flintshire village because it is "no longer commercially viable" according to transport bosses.

The Leader attended a public meeting in Mancot last week where more than a hundred residents spoke of their concern over plans to change the Arriva 12/13 service - which was described by some as "a lifeline".

Attendees heard that the company planned to make significant changes to the service at the end of April, but no representative from Arriva was present at the meeting.

In a statement following the meeting, a spokesman for the company said: "We can confirm that from April 28, the number 12 service will be withdrawn and the number 13 will only run between Chester and Mold via Buckley and Nat Mawr Road in both directions.

"Despite giving much thought on how to save the service, due to low passenger numbers it is no longer commercially viable to operate and we would like to sincerely apologise to passengers for any inconvenience caused."

Those attending the meeting - many of whom were local to Mancot, Hawarden and surrounding areas - raised concern for the impact the changes will have on older residents.

Reaching medical appointments and getting to work were among the daily activities residents feared would be affected.

Mancot Councillor Bob Connah, who chaired the public meeting, told the Leader he disagreed with the suggestion that the 12 and 13 services saw low use.

He explained: "Not only am I a councillor, I have another occupation which takes me around Mancot on a regular basis.

"There are a number of bus stops - one on Leaches Lane always and another at the top of Hawarden Way which always have people waiting.

"So I would disagree that is has low use."

Cllr Connah said he was surprised and pleased to see the huge turnout for the public meeting, adding: "It just shows exactly how much the service is going to be missed when they take it away."

He said that while he didn't anticipate bosses at Arriva changing their mind over the service, he planned to give Flintshire Council a week to ten days to collate responses gathered at the meeting before requesting an update on possible solutions.

At the public meeting, held at Mancot Village Hall, Flintshire Council officer Ruth Cartwright acknowledged the importance of the service but emphasised the authority had no control over commercial decisions made by firms such as Arriva.

She said that replacing such a service could cost the council about £250,000 - money which the authority does not have to spare.

What the council could provide, she explained, was a reduced but scheduled minibus service which can get people to town centres or "hubs" where they can continue their onward journey.

Cllr Carolyn Thomas, cabinet member for streetscene and countryside, invited residents to give suggestions to solve the problem.

She said: "I am trying to make sure everyone has a service in the future - it might not be the same as you currently have and I am sorry about that, but we're doing our best."