Transport cuts have left thousands of Westcountry pensioners trapped in their own homes despite free bus passes, a new charity survey has found.
People aged over 75 are becoming increasingly isolated because of unsuitable bus services with a "devastating" impact on their "sense of happiness and wellbeing", it says.
The damning survey by the charity WRVS shows that one in seven pensioners in the region have been directly affected.
It has led to calls for a halt to more cuts to bus routes and trains, especially in rural areas where older people could be left unable to access shops, friends, healthcare and other community facilities
David McCullough, the charity's chief executive, said: "Older people shouldn't be confined to their own homes simply because they can't access transport.
"Getting out and about is a basic necessity that many of us take for granted but this report shows it isn't so straightforward for older people who may have mobility issues and we know this can have a devastating impact on wellbeing."
In Devon, where more than half of all off-peak travel is taken by passengers using free bus passes, the county council has cut £1.35 million from its £7.75 million public transport budget since the Coalition cuts began.
Cornwall has faced a £2.3 million Government shortfall and councillors have cut the subsidy paid to bus operators for average concessionary fares from 73.5% to 36%, forcing routes to close.
Colin Fletcher, chief executive of Age UK Devon, said half of all people over 75 live alone and many say they are always or often lonely.
"A shocking 50% of older people describe their television as their main source of company," he added.
"Older people should be able to contribute to their communities, socialise and lead fulfilling lives – affordable and accessible public transport is essential to ensure that this can happen, especially in largely rural areas where many live in isolated conditions."
The WRVS, which operates a door-to-door volunteer driver service, said the study showed that simple things such as the siting of a bus stop, or the lack of an accessible bus on a particular route could mean the difference between someone over 75, or with mobility issues, being stuck in at home or not.
One in 11 older people – which equates to thousands of over-75s – feel they have lost their independence, leading to feelings of loneliness and isolation.
The charity says the survey reveals that free bus passes are only useful if the pensioner receiving it can physically get on a bus, or can get to a bus stop.
A staggering 17 per cent – more than one in six – of those aged over 75 in the region, don't use public transport because it isn't suitable for their disabilities.
The WRVS is calling on councils, the Government and bus and rail firms not to discriminate against the elderly or disabled.
The charity is also calling on public transport providers to consider the needs of older people by training drivers to better help and support older people who need assistance.
The call was backed by the nation's biggest transport union, the RMT, which called it "shocking".
General secretary Bob Crow linked the report to the kind of cuts which have seen rural train stations lose staff to redundancies whose jobs included helping the disabled and elderly access trains.
"The shocking news that around a third of a million older people are being socially excluded through transport poverty should have this Government hanging their heads in shame," he added.
"The cuts to station and train staff being bulldozed through by the private train operators and the Government will worsen this scandalous situation."
