EDGWORTH residents have spoken out over plans to axe a key village bus service.

Backed by Darwen MP Jake Berry, Blackburn with Darwen Council has been presented with a petition signed by 150 people calling for the 537 Edgworth to Bolton route to be saved.

The decision to end the service came when the council was tasked with finding £48m savings over three years.

After reviewing spending, members chose to recoup £400,000 from public transport subsidies.

The council said its decision came after a review of bus services across the borough.

Ending the Edgworth route is said to have followed the policy to ‘maintain the highest number of services with the greatest number of passengers travelling on them’.

A report responding to the petition said: “The council is acutely aware of the impact that the withdrawals of subsidy have had to residents in the south of the borough.

“The council has had to take some difficult decisions in unprecedented circumstances.”

It adds that the situation where the last service from Bolton to Edgworth now falls at 5pm “is not an ideal one”.

Mr Berry said: “If this service is withdrawn, it would leave many residents, particularly those without vehicles, isolated.

"There are children who cannot access schools and workers unable to return home after 5pm.

There are also many elderly residents now unable to access services and appointments.

“This is clearly an unacceptable situation.”