BUS services could be cut if Lancashire suffers a harsh winter, according to the county's transport chief.

Coun Tony Martin has revealed he is hoping for mild weather to be able to save money earmarked for treating the county's roads with grit.

But LibDem opposition leader on the council, Coun David Whipp, said it was a precarious position for the authority to be pinning its finances on the weather.

He has been told to find savings of half a million pounds from his department, as the county council looks to slash its budget by £12.5million.

He said officials had identified that, by cutting the subsidy on around 230 services, the money could be found.

However, he added that if he is able to spend less on gritting the roads, the bus services could remain untouched.

Coun Martin said: "I am hoping for a warm winter so I don't have to spend on salt and grit.

"If it does not snow I can save the money. It would be better for me and better for the public because they don't like it when it's snowing and we have to grit the roads."

The county spends about £3.6m on gritting the roads each year.

About £2.4m of that is fixed costs, such as maintaining the fleet or gritters.

However, around £1.2m is variable, such as salt and fuel costs.

Coun Whipp said: "I think pinning your hopes on a warm winter is a rather precarious way of running a county council.

"I think the council should be putting its finances on a firmer footing."

He said the Labour administration had cut the bus subsidy year on year and the effects were now being felt.

Coun Martin insisted that the budget process had been started earlier than in previous years and that if savings could be made in back office functions, bus services could be left alone.

He added: "I want to avoid, if possible, doing anything to school buses. It will be mainstream bus services that we look at.

Currently the council will subsidise bus routes up to 60 per cent of the costs, said Coun Martin.

It is now looking to lower that to 50 per cent.