Bosses at Derby Community Transport (DCT) also said Dial-A-Ride was losing too much money. It will stop operating this Friday.

There will be a reduced city council service, only taking people to and from medical appointments.

Many users insisted they regarded the old facility as a lifeline.

Tough choices

DCT chief executive Richard Jones said it had recently examined its non-subsidised operations after winning the city council's community bus service contract.

"One of the biggest problems was the Dial-A-Ride service which we'd been running for many years and it was showing a very significant loss.

"As a charity I know we're not... supposed to make money but I can't afford for a charity to lose money as that affects the workings of everything else."

A new, reduced service will start on 1 October and will not take people on journeys such as going to the shops.