JOBS could be lost in the village of Briestfield near Grange Moor under plans to scrap a bus route.

The service is due to finish in January - despite services to nearby Whitley remaining.

The announcement has prompted protests from villagers who have sent petitions to Arriva Yorkshire and Metro, the companies responsible for running the service.

Villager Catherine Wigglesworth collected the signatures.

She said: "It will leave us isolated. There are several older people in the village who always use the bus. It is going to be a blow to our community.

"A bus service should be just that - a public service."

Lauren Gomersall, 24, of Bywell Road, Dewsbury, works in the village as a groom and also keeps her own pony there.

She stands to lose her job if the bus service is abolished.

She said: "I really like it up here and would be very disappointed to give up my job.

"It is a bit of a nuisance. There are elderly people round here too and none of them will be able to get anywhere.

"There are no trains and a taxi would be too expensive."

Ms Gomersall said she would also have to find somewhere else to keep her pony: "It is winter. Everyone is bringing their horses in after the summer so most places are pretty full."

Charlotte Long, 17, of Scopsley Lane, Whitley, is studying equine management at Huddersfield Technical College.

She also works as a groom in Briestfield and would have difficulty balancing college and work if the bus was scrapped.

She said: "I don't know if I could carry on with the changes. I would have to change my hours to get lifts.

"Walking takes ages and I wouldn't feel safe on my own."

Phil Stone, managing director for Arriva Yorkshire, confirmed the route was to be axed.

He said: "The service will no longer serve Briestfield from the end of January 2007.

"It is going to be withdrawn due to low passenger numbers."

Mr Stone said on average four people used the bus every day at Briestfield, compared with around 25 at Whitley.

A spokesman for Metro said: "The criteria Metro follows set a minimum average of six passengers per journey."