STYAL will be cut off from the bus network next month after D&G Bus announced it will stop running its 130 service.

The company rerouted its service from Macclesfield to Manchester Airport on April 1 to include Styal, which lost its old 200 service in Cheshire East Council's recent bus review.

But faced with low passenger numbers, D&G will run its final 130 service on Saturday, June 16.

"It is barely making enough to pay the driver let alone cover the cost of fuel and maintenance," said Chris Almond, bus network manager at D&G Bus.

"We have not given it very long but it has shown no signs of improving and we are having to call it a day."

Last year the firm stepped in to save Wilmslow's 378 bus which was stopped by Stagecoach.

That service was also scrapped due to low passenger numbers after just two months, and Chris admits it is 'difficult to predict' how successful bus routes will be in the town.

He said: "Let's not deny that Wilmslow is quite an affluent area in the grand scheme of things, and we have tried different services there that have not worked out.

"As a bus company trying to make money the only thing we can do is try something new, and if it doesn't work we will change it or stop it."

Arriva's 130 bus from Manchester city centre to Macclesfield, which runs through Handforth instead of Styal, is not affected by the decision.

Cllr Don Stockton, Conservative CEC member for Lacey Green, is disappointed that Styal's service is being withdrawn.

"I fought vociferously on residents' behalf to keep the original 200 in place," he added.

"D&G stepped in for which we are are grateful, and I'm just sorry that it has gone now.

"It's obvious that there are simply not enough people using the service, but I absolutely get it that people who do use it rely on it."

An hourly railway service will return from Sunday, May 20, taking passengers into Wilmslow town centre and further out to Crewe and Manchester.

CEC runs a dial-a-ride service for rural residents who are older, disabled or do not have access to either a car or scheduled bus service.

Call 01270 371478 for more information.