A FAMILY-run bus service will carry its last passengers at the end of this year after more than three decades of taking people to Winchester.

Mervyn’s Coaches will accept its last fares on its route from Micheldever on December 30, with a host of changes causing the end.

The services that will be withdrawn include the 95, 95A, 96 and 96A, which also cover East Stratton.

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.

“We have got to the point where we would be putting our own business at risk for a service that only a handful of people use. The villagers now are different than what they used to be. People living in the villages don’t ride the buses as such,” Mr Annetts added that most families now have more than one car that they use to travel to Winchester.

And the news has been met with sadness from those who still use the bus.

“I had one lady and she was in tears; she doesn’t know what she is going to do. One gentleman from Micheldever had to move into Winchester because the service is stopping,” Mr Annetts said.

The family firm has also been hit by national legislation and council cuts which they were forced to factor into their decision.

On January 1 all bus companies have to be Disability Discrimination Act compliant, and as the vehicle Mervyn’s Coaches uses to run the service does not conform, they have been driven to make the cut.

“We only have one bus now, we mostly have coaches, if the bus one to ever come of the road [breakdown] we would be stuck we have to have two buses and the village route doesn’t make any money.”

Funding was also pulled from Hampshire County Council after the company could no longer continue to run a Tuesday and Thursday service, which were originally requested by the authority.

The company say it is now in talks with the council about a way forward to provide public transport for those living in the village.

And following the announcement the parish council has paid tribute to the service.

Chairman Cllr William Helen said: “He [Mervyn Annetts] has provided an exceptional service for the community over the years. The level of support for the elderly in the community has been second to none. We are obviously concerned in respect to that level of support being provided going forward. Unfortunately the demand is dropping.”

Cllr Helen continued: “It will impact tremendously, for that service to be lost for the community when it is needed by Micheldever, particularly the village and Stratton. In Micheldever Station someone could get a train but in Micheldever itself and West Stratton are totally void of any service. It is a sad day for the community.”

The 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 occassions, excursions and school trips.