PENSIONERS have been left housebound through changes to Southampton's bus network, it is claimed.

Age Concern Southampton is calling on First Southampton bus company to take urgent action to bring back routes which were axed as part of last month's network review.

Sandra Smith, chief officer for the charity's Southampton branch, said: "We have had lots and lots of letters and calls from pensioners complaining they are not getting a good service from the bus company anymore. The buses are not going where the older people want them to go, and the changes are not for the better - they're changes for the worse.

She added: "It does seem that the recent changes have really affected older people quite severely, and I would like to see the bus company consulting with older people, and taking action."

Hilda Young, 74, of Winchester Road, Bassett, said she and other pensioners have been hit hard since First Southampton removed the number four bus service.

"There's an awful lot of old people here who are now housebound because they can't get out because they have got too far to walk for a bus - a lot of them are on frames and walking sticks," said Hilda

Vera Wargent, 80, of Cunningham Crescent, Sholing, used to catch the number 6a bus to St Andrew's pensioners' club in Butts Road.

She said: "We used to be able to catch two buses there, but since they made all these changes we've got nothing at all. I can't walk up the hill, so I'm stuck in at home."

First Southampton says customers are benefiting from an improved service after a £5.5 million investment in new buses, but that people don't like change.

The company claims customers were invited to comment on the old network before the changes.

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