ELECTRONIC timetables at Burnley bus station have earned an 11th-hour reprieve.

County council public transport chiefs say they will save £47,000 by switching off the information displays at Burnley, Nelson, Chorley, Lancaster and Skelmersdale bus interchanges.

The decision has been condemned as ‘risible’ by passengers and Labour county councillors alike, for the hardships it will cause to the travelling public, especially people with sight problems.

But the displays at Burnley’s Croft Street bus station have remained operational, despite a December 1 deadline for the switch-off.

It is understood they will continue to run until Christmas.

The electronic timetable at Nelson’s new £2million bus station has been axed - although time displays have still continued at the Railway Street terminus.

Borough councillors in Burnley are set to discuss the possiblity of providing funding to keep the town’s bus station moving.

The issue has been placed before the environment scrutiny committee which meets at Burnley Town Hall tomorrow.

A Burnley Council spokesman said: “We are aware concerns have been raised by other areas about the signs being turned off and our environment and housing scrutiny committee will be discussing this on Wednesday."

Last night the Nelson area committee was also set to debate the timetables issue, with a strong condemnation expected from the Labour-dominated meeting.

Similar protests have also erupted in Lancaster, with opponents questioning why no consultation was carried out, ahead of the controversial move, and whether talks have taken place with district authorities over the boards’ future maintenance.