DAYTIME bus services linking residents with Blackburn's hospitals are to be chopped, prompting anger among councillors and passengers.

The 5A and 5C Blackburn Outer Circle bus services run by Blackburn Borough Transport Ltd will cease operation during the day on week days from Monday.

The 5A will cease between 9.32am from Intack and 2.32pm, while the 5C will cease between 10.15am from Intack and 3.15pm.

The outer circle route links areas such as Intack, Bastwell and Green Lane with Blackburn Royal Infirmary and Queen's Park Hospital.

Blackburn Transport said the decision was financial, with not enough passengers accessing the service to make it viable. The service has been subsidised by Blackburn with Darwen Council for one month so users could be told the route was being stopped.

The council, which has a duty to ensure transport is provided where it is needed in the community, has decided not to extend the subsidy.

Passenger June Bibby, a worker at Queen's Park Hospital, said: "I'm horrified. I've rung the bus company to complain. I use the bus during the day to go home at lunch times."

Mrs Bibby said the buses were well-used by patients and staff.

Coun Maureen Bateson, who represents the Ewood ward, said she used the service to get to and from work. She said: "Any cuts in services concern me. This will impinge on the lives of those who rely on the service.

"I've made representations to people in the council that we need to have good quality services running between our hospitals."

Coun Paul McGurty, of Corporation Park ward, said: "The people of Blackburn have been hit with massive tax increases, but are getting less for their money."

Bus company managing director Michael Morton said: "The outer circle is a major mover of people in morning and afternoon peak periods. Few people travel between peaks and most parts of the route can be accessed from other tracks.

"We're grateful to the council for their financial support over the past four weeks and realise their budget cannot extend to additional support at times when it is not cost-effective to operate."

Mr Morton added passenger numbers figures could not be released because they were commercially sensitive.

Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration, said the council did not have the resources to subsidise routes unless the social consequences of them being withdrawn warranted it and he did not feel that was the case.