Pensioners are being out off from travelling to hospital for vital care because they must catch three buses to get there, it has been claimed.

Councillors and residents in Witham are urging First Buses to consider installing a service from Witham straight to both Broomfield Hospital and Braintree Community Hospital.

Town councillor Rob Williams claimed the situation was "not good enough".

He said: "The heart of the problem is that if anybody is ill in Witham and needs to go to hospital, there is no direct bus service.

"It's very hard for people in Witham to access major healthcare services if you are relying on public transport."

See the Witham Times for the full story.