RESIDENTS of a Brecon Beacons village are having to walk miles along a main road just to catch a bus.

When the Brecon to Llandovery number 80 bus service was axed in November residents of Trecastle, which is between the two towns on the A40 trunk road, were cut adrift.

Since the service, which ran three times a day, was axed some villagers have taken to walking three miles along the winding trunk road which has no pedestrian footpath to Sennybridge, where they can catch the Swansea to Brecon bus.

Dave Howells, a community councillor in the village, said he is concerned for the safety of those walking the road - and for the wellbeing of those left behind.

He had even approached the Army camp at Sennybridge to see if its vehicles travelling to the Epynt ranges could transport civilians but was told insurance and logistic problems couldn’t be overcome.

Mr Howells said he realised people had started walking the after he’d driven to pick up his teenage daughter from work in Sennybridge.

"My daughter recognised a man from the bus. He was walking with his shopping bags and said he shouldn’t be walking on the road," said Mr Howells.

"I went back and offered him a lift. He was reluctant but I insisted and he took a lift and he appreciated it."

Mr Howells said others are also walking the road which is frequently used by large lorries and fast moving traffic.

"He told me before they axed the service it was standing room only on the small bus. Quite a few people used it.

"Another person in the village told me they had seen someone walking in the road and they almost knocked them down.

"It is a main road and there have been fatalities between here and Sennybridge. There is no pavement and the grass is not in a good enough condition to walk on, especially now. People are leaving early in the morning when it is dark to get the bus in Sennybridge."

The community councillor said many villagers have given others lifts since the bus service was withdrawn but he fears some residents have been isolated as they do not know a car driver.

He also said he was concerned removing the village from bus routes would hit tourism as the ramblers would previously catch the bus in Llandovery and walk back from Trecastle.

Pam Killner, of Trecastle, said she had previously used the bus about twice a week to go shopping in Brecon and occasionally would ride the last bus in to see shows at Theatr Brycheiniog.

"I haven’t tried walking to Sennybridge, I’ve been banned by the family who’ve told me I’m not allowed to do it," said the 72-year-old.

"But some of the people who were on the bus are walking to Sennybridge. I can’t understand why they can’t give us a bus once a week as there are no shops in the village. My son-in-law takes me shopping now."

Powys County Council said it is in the early stages of discussions with community transport groups to see if an alternative provision can be provided for Trecastle.

The council said the Llandovery to Brecon service carried 5,400 passengers annually but was scrapped when the council withdraw funding in response to a £500,000 cut in its passenger transport budget.

Routes serving Knighton, Rhayader, Llandrindod and Builth Wells were also cut. The council said the Llandovery to Brecon route had one of the highest cost per passengers at £15.12 for every passenger.