AFTER three decades of taking passengers between Winchester and Micheldever, Mervyn's Coaches has been forced to end the route.

The Winchester-based company put on its last bus on Monday (December 30), starting from The Broadway.

Services that have now been withdrawn include the 95, 95A, 96 and 96A, which also cover East Stratton.

As previously reported, partner Joshua Annetts, grandson of owner Mervyn, said the whole company are upset about the difficult decision.

“It has been going since 1986. We are part of the community, we still would like to do it for the community as it keeps us in touch with the community, but it has become unviable for us to do it,” Mr Annetts said.

“The village run as it is hasn’t made any money, for the last 10 years or so we have been doing it out of the goodness of our hearts.”

The business has found that there has been a fall in customers, with changing travel habits of those living in villages.

Micheldever Parish Council hopes that another provider will step in to offer a service once or twice a week.

Mervyn's Coaches will still continue to run its coach hire services, along with those available for weddings, special occasions, excursions and school trips.