Campaign started to restore 'lifeline' coach service

Sara Fell Hicks and Nigel Hicks said they had relied on the 503 coach to support their charity work

Users of a coach service between south-west England and London have lost a "lifeline" after the decision to axe it, supporters of it say.

The National Express 503 service used to run from Penzance to the capital - stopping in towns including Camborne, Newquay and Launceston - but has not run since the start of September

North Cornwall MP Ben Maguire has launched a petition to argue for the service to be reinstated.

National Express said it recognised local people's disappointment but it had to stop it as it was not financially viable.

Nigel Hicks and Sara Fell Hicks, from Launceston, run the charity Orangutan Veterinary Aid, which supplies equipment, medicine and practical aid in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Mr Hicks said: "We take a lot of equipment ,180kg (400lb) between us, and that takes a lot of moving logistically.

"To be able to get on a coach in Launceston straight to Heathrow Airport makes life so much easier and cheaper for the charity.

"The alternative would be a train. The difficulty is it's more expensive and means two or three changes at least before we will get to Heathrow."

Mrs Fell Hicks said she was worried the coach's removal would be felt across the local community, and also damage the tourism industry.

She said: "It's a lifeline. We rely on that connection to get to all sorts of places to meet family and friends, business, all sorts of things.

"It's a huge blow for people who wanted to come to and from Cornwall cheaply as well."

The 503 coach no longer stops at Westgate Street on Launceston

Liberal Democrat MP Mr Maguire said he would raise the issue with the transport secretary as soon as he returned to parliament.

He said: "This is going to have a massive impact on my constituents and that is why I have immediately started this campaign to reinstate it.

"It's totally unacceptable. We already have such abysmal transport infrastructure in North Cornwall and now this vital link has been taken away from us."

A spokesperson for National Express said: "This change is part of a comprehensive review of our national network and unfortunately the 503 service is commercially unviable.

"We appreciate that some people will be disappointed by this change.

"Although there are no immediate plans to reinstate the service, we will keep this decision under review."