ALCESTER councillors have slammed the rural bus service connecting the town to Stratford and Redditch as 'appalling' and 'ludicrous'.

Some said the timetable was a joke and seemed to penalise people who wanted to get into work for a usual 9am start.

Councillor Chris Gough suggested those who devised the timetable had no clue about who actually used the service.

Mr Gough said: "People who want to leave Alcester to get to work for 9am have to leave so early because they have to go a circular route through all the villages.

"The next bus after this goes on a direct route but it does''t get employees in on time."

Councillor Eric Payne said his two grown-up daughters, who previously both caught the bus to get to work in Stratford and Redditch, started using their cars as they had to leave ridiculously early to get to work at 9am, even though it was just a few miles away.

Mr Gough said people in Alcester were encouraged to make use of the bus service but would have no confidence until the problems were addressed.

Council clerk Derrek Ward said they could make suggestions to Warwickshire County Council to see if it could be looked at again so employees and people wanting to reach a destination by 9am could be better catered for.

Councillor Peter Crabtree also suggested the council contact the Rural Transport Partnership, which has money given to it to improve rural bus services.