IN response to the article "Fury as vulnerable students' service is axed" (October 5), York Carers Together, a support group for family carers of children and adults with learning disabilities, would like to express its disappointment at the actions of City of York Council.

We are pleased that the Government is encouraging people with learning disabilities to play a greater part in their communities, and to have choice in the way they live their lives. Most of these vulnerable people rely on state benefits and any increase in costs means they have less money for other necessities.

Following a reduction in funding, some of the classes specifically for adults with learning disabilities at York College and Askham Bryan College were cut. After a campaign by York Carers Together, some have been re-instated.

Instead of informing families at the last minute that the transport they had relied on would no longer be available, the council should have worked with families to find alternative means for students to get to college.

Elsewhere, Travel Buddy schemes exist where people with learning disabilities are trained and paid to support others with learning disabilities to use public transport. We would urge the council to talk to service users and their families with a view to establishing such a service.

You can contact York Carers Together on 07984 643726 or write to us at the address below.

Pauline Rogers,

York Carers,

27 Bransdale Crescent,

Osbaldwick, York, YO10 3PB.

Updated: 10:13 Saturday, October 15, 2005