LABOUR candidate for Darwen at the next General Election Will Straw has written to the Government’s transport secretary over the axing of a village bus service.

Will Straw, who will oppose Jake Berry in 2015, has weighted into the argument over a bus providing people in Edgworth with links to Bolton.

As reported in the Lancashire Telegraph, Blackburn with Darwen Council has agreed to subsidise Darwen Coaches to extend its service from Darwen to Edgworth to go as far as Bromley Cross after Arriva said its 537 bus would no longer go as far as the village.

Mr Straw said: “The residents of Edgworth, particularly older people and those on low incomes, have every right to a bus service connecting them to Bolton so it was deeply worrying that Government cuts led to a commercial decision to terminate the 537 service.

“It is therefore a great relief that Blackburn with Darwen Council has stepped in to secure a bus until the end of the financial year.

“If we are serious about securing the route in the years ahead at a time when the council’s budget is squeezed even further, we will have to secure more support from central government.”