Local bus service provider Essex and Suffolk DaRT and the associated Arrow Taxis announced yesterday (Friday, 26 July) that they will be ceasing trading with immediate effect.

The service is well-loved in East Essex, offering regular services as well as dial and ride services for a number of years.

The business first opened in 1985 as Arrows Passenger and Freight Services, and it has been undertaking schools and social care contracts for 28 years.

In a post to Facebook, Essex and Suffolk Dart said: "It is with great regret that we must announce DaRT and Arrow taxis have ceased trading today with immediate effect. 

"We are so sorry for this, but had no alternative options.

"We would all like to sincerely thank all our passengers (friends) for supporting us over the years. 

"You have been a wonderful bunch of people and we loved serving you, and absolutely hate having let you down."

The post describes how spiralling costs and depleting passenger numbers have led to the services' closure. 

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There has been an outpouring of support by users on social media, sending their thanks to the "invaluable" service. 

A number of routes are now unmanned, with the taxi service pointing users to Essex County Council for further information.

Bus users should expect "a gap in service" as Essex County Council work to get replacements in place. 

The gaps cover services operating from Monday, including:

• Service 10 Temple Grove to Pleshey
• Service 12 Wickford to Billericay
• Service 45 Bradwell to South Woodham Ferrers
• Service 99A Chelmsford to Woodham Walter
• Services 322/323/324 Great Dunmow to Saffron Walden
• DaRT 3 Braintree

The 45 route between Bradwell and South Woodham Ferrers is set to be taken over by Stephenson's of Essex, with Vectare toted to be taking over the 332/3/4 routes.

These are yet to be confirmed by Essex County Council, which has also issued the following statement: "We are sorry to hear that Essex and Suffolk DaRT and Arrow Taxis has ceased trading.

"They have been a close partner of Essex County Council, running bus services in Essex.

"We are working urgently to identify the best approach for the services previously run by the company and will update residents as soon as we are able to do so."