A MAN has expressed his frustration about the lack of a weekend bus service in Blackburn - and took to the town centre to ask others for their thoughts.

Paul Lynch, from Blackburn, is calling for a more regular Saturday service after it "ceased to operate several years ago".

In a bid to make sure he wasn't alone in his 'campaign', Mr Lynch took to Blackburn town centre to speak with members of the public who he found were similarly disappointed.

He said: "I don't understand why the buses aren't running regularly on a weekend anymore, it doesn't make any sense. Us oldies don't necessarily have cars, and we certainly can't walk into town, so the bus is often our only option.

"It's something that needs looking at and I hope the council have the good sense to put more buses on of a weekend."

Jim, who Mr Lynch chatted to in town, said: "How can they stop buses on a Saturday? It's the main shopping day of the week! No wonder there are empty stalls on the market, nobody can get to them."

Eileen, from Oswaldtwistle, added: "How can this be allowed? People are entitled to bus passes but the council don't honour that at weekends."

Regular Blackburn bus user, Dave, said: "If it's a financial thing, they ought to cut the Blackburn to Darwen or Accrington route, which runs every seven minutes. With summer in full swing now pensioners are being denied the right to travel when they want. It's appalling."

Blackburn with Darwen Cllr Phil Riley said: "We know that for some people in the borough buses are a lifeline, but the stark reality is these are often very under used services and the bus companies and the council often have to make difficult financial decisions when deciding to carry on with a service.

"I do agree that more investment needs to be made into our bus services by the Government, it needs to be a priority to allow people to fully get out and about in our borough.

"As a council we are taking part in a national strategy from the Government called 'Bus Back Better' which gives funding with the aim to improve the bus network.

"There will be a consultation out very soon, asking for people's views on transport and if people want to highlight the lack of Saturday services this could be something we can look at as part of the review."