A 73-YEAR-OLD woman who has mobility problems says she is worried she won’t be able to visit relatives this Christmas after the National Express axed its service in Leigh.

Sheila Arndt, of Richmond Drive, Leigh, tried to book a trip to Southampton to visit one of her daughters for the festive season.

However, she found the usual 570 service, which runs from Blackpool to London will no longer make a stop at Leigh.

Sheila says she would now have to go to Manchester which she cannot do due to mobility problems.

“I can’t walk very well by myself and with it being Christmas I’ll have all the presents to take,” said retired matron Sheila.

“I don’t even know if there’s another coach that leaves here, it is going to cost more money.

“If it’s a pensioner like me that can’t manage to go too far it’s hard to go to Manchester.

“I usually travel three or four times a year to go to them and friends and other family.

“You would think they would just do a trip around us.”

Sheila, who is also a veteran entertainer who performs as Cheeky the Clown, added: “I’m sure there’s other people who are going to find out when they try to book and they’re going to find out there’s none.

“I’m now more worried about how I’m going to see my family.”

A spokeswoman for the National Express confirmed that a decision had been made for the 570 service to no longer call at Leigh, which will be kept under review.

She said: “Unfortunately, due to a long-term decline in passenger numbers, the 570 service no longer calls at Leigh.

“As with any need to make changes, we have not taken this decision lightly but it is simply not viable for us to keep it running to this stop.

“We appreciate some people will be disappointed and while it won’t be as convenient, there are a number of alternative services from central Manchester.

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