PENSIONERS in South Shore are heading for a bus-t up over a disappearing transport route, says one elderly Blackpool resident.

Olive Williams, 87, of Molyneux Drive, South Shore, said pensioners will suffer because the No 8 bus route is being changed.

She said the bus route is a lifeline for the elderly in the area who want to get to the shops on Highfield Road.

"When they took the 25 bus off I tried to keep it," Olive said. "It's disgusting. Now it's the eight that's changing and there will only be a bus every two hours.

"All of us people over 80 don't want that -- we want a frequent bus. I have lived in Blackpool 60-odd years I think it's disgusting that old people have to wait and stand for two hours."

Blackpool Transport spokesperson Liz Esnouf met with concerned pensioners on Molyneux Drive community centre on Friday (April 19) to discuss bus route changes.

She confirmed the service would be two-hourly and that route changes could leave some residents stuck. "If you live on Lennox Gate you won't be able to get to the Highfield Road shops on the new route," she said.

Blackpool Borough Council have provided revenue support to the No 8 and Blackpool Transport were "simply implementing a decision someone else has made" she said.

"Since 1985 there have been two ways you can fund bus services, either through what people pay when they get on the bus or through revenue support, like council subsidies, and the eight falls into the latter."

Councillor Fred Jackson, who has special responsibility at the council for the urban environment, confirmed the council subsidised "social needs" services -- where residents may rely on a service but it is not commercially viable.

However it is understood that the council is currently reviewing such services. "We are concerned as a council about the effect it's going to have on residents. At the moment I am in conversations with our officers regarding the changes that have been suggested and I am hoping that we might be able to come to some arrangement," he said.

A spokesman for the council's technical services said routes eight, nine and ten will cease on Monday (April 29) to be replaced by services 2B and 2C.

The 2B will provide a two hourly service between Tesco, Midgeland Road and the town centre and Poulton, via Victoria Hospital.

The 2C will also operate from Tesco along Daggers Hall Lane, Hawes Side Lane, Lennox Gate, St Annes Rd and Watson Rd.