TWO bus services reinstated after hundreds of people signed a petition to bring them back have been abandoned after only a handful actually used them.

Travel Assist responded to a campaign to restore routes to Shadsworth and the Royal Blackburn Hospital following the collapse of Darwen Coach Services in December.

It launched the TA5 and TA6 via North Road, Queen’s Park, Audley Range, Lincoln Road and Romney Walk the next month.

It followed a 400-signature petition from residents promising to use the commercial operation organised by Shadsworth with Whitebirk councillor Tony Humphrys.

However Travel Assist has now dropped the service because it attracted only a handful of passengers.

Transdev is also reducing its Shadsworth Shuttle evening and Sunday services but extending its 22 route to the Royal Blackburn and Shadsworth.

Now Cllr Humphrys is urging Blackburn with Darwen Council to find cash to support Travel Assist bring back the TA5 and TA6 services.

He said: “There are elderly and disabled people on that route especially in North Road, Romney Walk and Audley Range without cars who need these services.

“They cannot walk to the nearest alternative bus stop and reductions to the Shadsworth Shuttle don’t help although the extension of the 22 will ease things slightly.

“I am very sad that after so many people signed the petition only a few actually used the services but I am asking the council to find a small sum to subsidise and save them.”

Cllr Phil Riley, council deputy leader, said: “We did all we could to restore this service after 400 people signed a petition but I understand only two used it regularly.

"We cannot afford to subsidise bus routes no-one uses.”

Jim Coulthard, a director at Travel Assist, said: “It’s heartbreaking to drop these services but too few people use them to make them viable without a council subsidy.”