BUS services between Burnley and Bacup are the first to be axed by a transport giant in a wave of “devastating” cost-cutting measures.

Public transport bosses at the region’s largest provider, Lancashire United, say they have been left struggling by a Whitehall decision to reduce the amount of funding given to councils for providing free pensioner travel.

And management say that in the next few months they will also be reviewing Starship and Mainline bus routes in Burnley and Pendle.

Ten job losses at Lancashire United firm Transdev Northern Blue have already been confirmed in a leaked company memo, with services being transferred to Transdev Burnley and Pendle (TBP).

Remaining staff have moved to TBP’s Queensgate bus depot in Burnley and the bulk of the moves announced so far affect former Northern Blue routes.

No fewer than 18 buses currently run on the 92 line between Burnley and Todmorden, serving Cliviger and Holme Chapel, and back each day, with five additional school holiday services.

But from September 1 this will be reduced to 12, alongside eight school holiday services and two during term-time.

The Saturday service will be completely removed although the 592 bus, run by First Calderdale, runs in the same direction.

Another hard hit route is the number eight service between Burnley and Bacup, also serving Weir, which currently runs 14 buses between the towns daily.

This will be reduced to nine Mondays to Fridays, with two others only running during school term times.

Another two will be taken over by Rossendale Transport and run as number 48 buses – the latter 0859 service being a school-only service through Weir and Bacup.

County councillor Peter Steen said: “I understand that the current econmic climate does demand some changes, but it is a slippery slope if services get axed.

“It may well be devastating for local bus users.”

Meanwhile the company is withdrawing Saturday buses on the X63 Burnley to Accrington route, and the 74 Nelson-Marsden Park bus, with Tyrer acting as stand-in, and minor amendments due for the Monday to Friday timetables in each case.

The withdrawal of the 3 and 3A Towneley-Burnley-Ightenhill-Clifton Farm Saturday service will also benefit Tyrer.

But revisions are being made to the Monday to Friday timetable to make it half-hourly between Ightenhill and Clifton Farm.

Lancashire United’s commercial director David Wilson said: “We are having to review the whole network.

“The combination of the reduction in concessionary fare reimbursement and the recession means fares on some of the services don’t even cover the cost of the driver’s wages.”