A PENSIONER is calling on Lancashire County Council to reinstate funding for an evening bus service through Rossendale.

Alison Bradley, 64, from Waterfoot, said her whole family would be affected if Rossendale Transport cancel their evening 464 Accrington to Rochdale service on May 29, as planned.

The cancellation comes as the council make £179 million cuts.

The mother-of-three, of Burnley Road East, said: “I depend on the buses daily.

“Under the changes the last bus will leave Rochdale at 8.35pm and leave Accrington at 8.50pm.

"This will be a nightmare for anyone who needs the service later.

“I understand they need to make cuts but surely they could reduce the number of services per hour and run one bus an hour in the evening?

“My son works at Rochdale Infirmary and if the cut goes ahead he will no longer be able to work the late shift, which could cost him his job.”

Mother-of-three Sarah Walker, of Market Street, Shawforth will also be affected and has now launched a petition.

The 34-year-old, who works at Mecca Bingo, in Rochdale said: “If they lose this service, I will literally have to give up my job because the extra travelling costs will be the same as working a week for free.

“The county council just haven’t thought about what the service cut means for users.”

To date 200 people have signed the petition which is available at the Credit Union in Bacup and at Shawforth Chapel.

Tim Gornall, the county council's group manager for bus and supported transport, said: "For a local bus service to receive a county council subsidy, at least 40 per cent of the running costs must be met by bus fares.

“Unfortunately bus fares accounted for less than a quarter of the running costs for evening journeys on the 464 service.

“This was simply not sustainable and we regretfully took the decision to withdraw the subsidy."