PENSIONERS battling to get a new bus service have been told by council bosses: "Prove there is the demand".

This came as bus company chiefs and councillors argued over what was needed to ensure services could be reinstated.

Jack and Rene Houldsworth began enlisting the support of Revidge Road neighbours after Blackburn Transport axed their local service at weekends due to a lack of demand.

Rene said: "We feel trapped at night and weekends. A lot of people here are old and need a service because we can't walk long distances to find existing ones."

Blackburn Transport has said that new services would not be financially viable and they could not operate them under the provisions of the Transport Act, which sets down rules for creating routes.

But Blackburn with Darwen councillors today questioned the firm's understanding of the rules, and told the pensioners to prove they needed a service before they considered dipping into the coffers to subsidise a new route.

Coun Andy Kay said: "We regret that Blackburn Transport has withdrawn the service. It is not our understanding that non-commercial bus services cannot be run under the act. The council can only support subsidies to bus services when justified by cost and social need".

Blackburn Transport MD Michael Morton hit back and said: "We know the rules. To put on a service, we have to prove it is viable and there is a demand. There isn't here."

Coun Paul McGurty, a Conservative councillor for the Corporation Park ward, said: "I would say about 80 per cent of the people who live in that area are elderly and they are effectively stranded after 2.30pm on weekdays and all weekend. They just cannot go anywhere."