A WOMAN who suffered a stroke is concerned she may no longer be able to socialise if her community transport service is cut.

Braintree Community Trans- port said funding could be at risk if Essex County Council (ECC) makes financial cuts.

Sylvia Morton, 84, from Witham, uses the service to take her to Braintree Stroke Group, which meets at St Peters in the Field in Braintree.

Ms Morton, from Chelmer Road, started visiting the group fortnightly after suffering a stroke in 2009. She also visits the Young at Heart club at Witham Football Club weekly.

She said: “I joined Braintree Stroke Club six weeks after as I live on my own and wanted to find people in the same situation.

“I get Community Transport once a fortnight to the club. We have an afternoon playing bingo and chatting and have tea and cakes.” Next Tuesday the club is going to Tropical Wings in South Woodham Ferrers.

She said: “It’s a necessary ser - vice for so many of us. It costs £9.80 there and back which is very good as I couldn’t afford a taxi – it would be £10 each way.

“I wouldn’t be able to go if there were funding cuts.”

Iris West from Hanover Court gets a lift with Sylvia to the club.

She had two strokes four years ago and finds it difficult to walk.

Ms West, 76, said: “I think the service is great but if they stop it I won’t be able to go anywhere.”

Marguerite Fowler, treasurer at Braintree Stoke Club, said: “We use the service when we go shopping and out for trips, we are concerned about it as there’s a lot of groups who use the service to get them to their clubs. It’s a lifeline for them to get out.”

Eddie Johnson, councillor responsible for highways and transport, said Essex County Council was aware of the value residents place on community transport service, and no decision has been made yet.

He said: “Local government funding remains under contin- ued pressure so we have to look carefully at all our spending.”