A LACK of passengers has led to the withdrawal of a bus service.

Operator Moving People announced that they are to stop running the number 33 bus service in Darwen.

But two new routes have been registered by Travel Assist to pick up the slack.

Council bosses say they have worked to ensure there will be alternative bus options available.

A spokesman said the decision has been made due to the lack of passengers using the service, with the Darwen to Royal Blackburn Hospital service used by an average of just four people a day.

The changes will come into place from June 10.

They will mean Hoddlesden and Pot House have a service to Darwen but no direct link to Blackburn. Passengers will need to connect in Darwen town centre to travel to Blackburn on the number 1 service.

The link to Royal Blackburn Hospital will be via Blackburn using the number one service to Blackburn then connecting with either the 22, 12A or 12C in Blackburn.

With the withdrawal of the 33 service, there will be a reduced number of journeys between Blackburn, Royal Blackburn Hospital and Newfield.

But services 12A, 12C and 22 will run the same level of operation as at present.

There will be one journey from Darwen to Edgworth and one return journey on the days of operation. No service will run to Blackamoor, Lower Darwen or Chapels.

Alternative options are service 12A/12C to the top of Newfield Drive or service 1 from Blackburn or Darwen to Branch Road on the A666.

There will be additional Saturday journeys on Darwen local services with the introduction of Saturday services on routes TA3, TA6 and TA8.

New routes are Darwen-Hoddlesden (via Marsh House, returning via Pole Lane Priory), and Darwen-Pot House (via Higher Perry, returning via Anyon Street and Sudellside).