A CARER fears she could be forced to quit her job if council chiefs axe a night-time bus service through Middlewich.

Marie Tams, from Beechfield Drive in Middlewich, faces a dangerous walk of nearly four miles to and from work in darkness if the K33, Middlewich's only night service, is cut.

Marie, who works as a support worker at a nursing home in Elworth, says the decision will 'isolate' the town and leave her struggling to complete shifts at the home.

She fears she will have to cut back on her working hours or even look for a new job closer to home if Cheshire County Council axes the service to save money.

Marie, 50, said 'The council has already cut services once on a Saturday morning, cancelling the 7am and the 7.30am from Middlewich to Elworth, so now the first bus is at 8am, 15 minutes after my shift starts.

'I can get round that in summer by walking to Elworth, but I can't do that in the evenings or during the winter weather.

'If the bus goes, it will restrict my working hours even more. We don't live in the dark ages - people need to get to work and this will affect me quite considerably.

'If I can't get myself a lift - and the taxis are too expensive - I will have to walk home via the canal which I don't want to do in the dark. Otherwise, I would have to change my duties and hours, but sometimes I can't do that. Alternatively I would have to quit my job and get a job in Middlewich.'

Maria claims the 'underused' buses tend to be busy when she is on them, with commuters travelling to Sand-bach and Crewe railway stations.

She said: 'You see a lot of people who get the train to work in Manchester and they need the bus to get back to Middlewich.

'It's as if Middlewich doesn't exist after a certain time. You can't get to Northwich at night, there are no buses in that direction and it makes you feel isolated.'

If the cuts are approved, the bus which travels from Winsford to Crewe via Middlewich and Sandbach will pick up its last passengers at about 6.15pm.

Congleton Borough Councillor Mike Parsons has written an open letter to Cheshire County Council chief executive Jeremy Taylor, accusing him of making a U-turn over public transport needs in Middlewich.

In it, Cllr Parsons asks how people in Middlewich are supposed to cope when they are cut off from their workplace at night.

Cllr Parsons wrote: 'At the last meeting of the Congleton Borough Area Transport Liaison Group, your representatives gave an assurance that the proposed cuts in bus services would not affect Middlewich.

'Maybe, therefore, you can also explain how such irresponsible contradictory comments and actions can have a place in the county transport policy.

'Middlewich is the fastest developing town in the county and is also currently going through a massive regeneration and tourism programme.

'Its entire future, as well as the dayto-day livelihoods and quality of life of its commuters and residents, hinges on the provision of vital public transport services.'