DARWEN is set to be hit by a string of bus cuts affecting the service to the hospital and rural routes.

Cash-strapped Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is reducing the subsidies it pays for public transport as part of spending cuts of £33million.

Bus operators will soon be formally notified about the town hall’s plans.

If no alternative funding can be found many will be scrapped or scaled back.

The 15a and 15c services, which provide the town’s direct link to Royal Blackburn Hospital, will be stopped at nights.

The service was said to be barely used with some buses running with just a single passenger.

Sunnyhurst councillor Dave Smith admitted: “There are hardly any people on some of these buses, but for those that do use it it’s going to mean hardship.”

He said there was simply not enough cash in the council’s coffers to carry on subsidising the same number of services.

The free bus to Darwen Health Centre is also set to be scrapped.

A replacement service is expected to be put in place, but it will not be free.

However, pensioners will be able to use their free bus passes.

Rural services are the most affected because they tend to be less busy.

This means Hoddlesden, Chapeltown, Blackamoor and Tockholes will see a reduced service into Darwen town centre.

East Rural councillor Julie Slater said: “The residents are really worried, especially those who use the bus to get to work.

“They will be left with one bus an hour and that’s nowhere near enough.

"It’s ludicrous and I am not happy.”