A hard-working York sixth former says she and her fellow students will be left stranded by the cancellation of her daily bus to college.

And she says the cancellation will affect not only people from her home village of Elvington, but those living in nearby Wheldrake, Escrick and Dunnington as well.

At the moment, Eleanor Smith is picked up by service C2 at 8.10am each day and is dropped outside York Sixth Form College just before 9am.

But the service is due to be cancelled on July 2, eleven days before term ends.

Eleanor, 17, said: "I know they are only cancelling it for the summer, but I can't understand why it finishes eleven days before college does. How are we supposed to get there then?

"And it's not like we don't leave the village during the summer. The bus also goes to the Designer Outlet and Monks Cross, where quite a few college students have summer jobs."

Eleanor, said the only alternative bus will get her into York city centre by 7.50am - far too early, as she doesn't start college until 9am.

She is unsure whether a lift will be available, as both her parents are very busy with work and would find it difficult to get across York during the rush hour.

Eleanor's mother, Helen, said she was "absolutely furious" about the cancellation.

There had been no consultation from City of York Council, she said.

"As far as I am concerned it is disgusting. While most families in Elvington do have a car, not all do, and there are still people who rely on the bus if their partner is using the car all day," she said.

Dave Pearson, Principal Transport Manager for City of York Council, said the service was run on government money under the Rural Bus Challenge.

This had now run out, but it was hoped cash would be found to start the service later this year.

And he said that apart from students, the number of villagers using the service had been low.

Updated: 11:04 Monday, June 25, 2001