A BUS service connecting Oswestry and Llanfyllin will cease to operate from Friday.

Service 72, run by Tanat Valley Coaches, will discontinue on Friday, June 26 because of the impact on finances caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The service, which runs between Oswestry and the Powys town, is one of the few services in Powys which receives no financial support from the local authority.

A spokesman for Tanat Valley Coaches confirmed a reduced service was considered, but because of low passenger numbers, the service was ultimately deemed unsustainable.

They said: “It is with regret that we are informing our customers that from June 26, 2020, this service will no longer run.

“We are sorry that we are having to take this action, but low passenger numbers mean that this service is not sustainable.

“This was also the case before Covid-19, but the pandemic has worsened the situation.

“We have thought long and hard about this, and have considered many options to try and maintain even a reduced service.

“Unfortunately this service is one of the very few in Powys which does not receive any financial support from the local authority, and without additional income we find ourselves losing money every day we run the service.”

Although the bus service will no longer run between the two towns, Llanfyllin customers will still be able to use the 74 service between Llanfyllin and Shrewsbury, and the 76 service between Llanfyllin and Welshpool.

The 72D Service between Oswestry and Llanfyllin High School in the morning and returning in the afternoon on school days will not be affected.

The spokesman added: “Tanat Valley Coaches would like to thank our customers for their support of the 72 Service over the years.”