Last week, a Guardian investigation revealed the disgusting state of many of the borough's 151 bus shelters.

However, residents are furious after it emerged South Ribble Council had removed the well-used shelter in front of the Aldi supermarket at the corner of Towngate and Westgate after it was damaged by vandals earlier this year.

Maria Pikulski, who is registered blind, says she didn't know where she was when she got off at the stop last week to meet her friend and discovered the shelter had been removed.

She said: "Visually impaired people have to rely on landmarks to help them find their way. When I got off to meet my friend the other week, I didn't know where I was. I was totally disoriented.

"My friend, who is also visually impaired, was the same. It was very confusing for the both of us and we had to ask people who were passing by where we were. It can be very scary."

The friends, who live at opposite sides of Leyland, use the stop as a meeting place before going shopping together in Preston every fortnight.

Maria, who suffers from Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy and has been registered blind for the past five years, said: "They can't just pull it down like this without any notice.

"They need to put it back, especially with the winter coming and all the bad weather we've been having. It's not just for visually impaired people but all the people who use the buses."

Last week, a random survey by a Guardian reporter found that six of the seven shelters visited had been targeted by vandals, graffiti artists and other thugs.

Coun Jim Breakell, cabinet member for streetscene services, said the shelter on Towngate was removed because the roof was unsafe.

He said: "The shelter was removed because it was no longer in a serviceable condition.

"It is scheduled to be replaced but not in the immediate future.

"Hopefully it can be replaced within this financial year."