Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

Numerous bus routes across South Yorkshire will be scrapped or altered from this weekend, with furious passengers warning the cuts will leave some communities 'stranded'.

Around a quarter of services across the region will be affected - with those in Sheffield and Doncaster worst hit - as transport chiefs respond to budget cuts, falling passenger numbers, higher running costs and growing congestion.

The major overhaul, which was announced in late July, will take effect between this Saturday, August 31, and Monday, September 2.

While the changes to many routes are fairly minor timetable adjustments designed to improve reliability, some services will be cut completely or see their frequency drastically reduced.

Diane Leek and fellow bus users who claim changes being made to the 31 and 31b bus routes through Walkley will leave some people 'prisoners in their own homes'

Fifteen services are being rerouted or replaced by alternatives, and two are being withdrawn, with publicly subsidised or 'tendered' routes serving hard to reach communities bearing the brunt of the cuts.

South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), which coordinates public transport in the region, said when announcing the changes that it had been forced to take 'difficult decisions' as 'we simply can't afford to retain the same level of services'.

It reminded passengers this week to check whether their buses will be affected so they are not caught by surprise when the shake-up takes effect.

Cuts to certain routes have prompted a furious response from passengers, who claim they threaten to leave whole communities cut off and will unfairly impact older and disabled people.

Passngers in Walkley are upset about the loss of the 31 and 31b services between Sheffield city centre and Loxley, which will be only partially replaced by routes 52a, 135 and 135a, leaving no direct link between Upperthorpe and South Road, Walkley.

Diane Leek, a former councillor, said the changes would leave many residents living on or around Sherde Road, Daniel Hill Street, Harold Street, Whitehouse Lane and Carr Road 'prisoners in their own homes'.

"These bus services are known as the mountain goats because the area's so hilly and it's very difficult for residents, especially older ones, to get about by foot," she said.

"This will leave many people stranded. Some will be unable to visit their GPs, churches and libraries, as well as essential shopping on South Road. They will also lose their links with the rest of the city's transport network.

Bus cuts in Sheffield will leave many 'stranded', warn passengers, as major overhaul looms