A BUS service to a Darwen high school faces the axe under council savings.

Blackburn with Darwen Council wants to axe one service, merge another two, and review the viability of two more.

The measures would make £50,000 a year in "efficiency" savings but the opposition Labour group claims there has not been enough consultation.

The 969 bus, which takes children from Highercroft to Darwen Vale High School, is set to be axed in order to save the council £22,000 a year.

A report outlining the changes says an average of 19.3 children use the service daily.

Darwen Vale chairman of governors Don Heatlie-Jackson said he would need to consult with the school before making a comment.

Council bosses said five routes across the borough were under-used.

They insisted any decision would be subject to consultation with parents, teachers and governors.

The council currently subsidises 31 routes provided by private operators.

In 2002, there were widespread protests against the previous Labour administration's plans to axe 17 routes.

Most were saved following the outcry.

Now council bosses have identified the five routes, labelled "socially necessary" in 2002, for the efficiency savings.

Labour councillor Andy Kay, who was in charge of transport in 2002, said: "The fundamental difference is that we consulted properly.

"At the time, these were seen as very important services. My gut feeling is that they should be retained."

But current regeneration portfolio holder Coun Alan Cottam said: "We are trying to look at it to get the fewest number of buses carrying the maximum number of children.

"Anyone whose children are affected will want to know what the implications will be and we will tell them.

"It's an efficiency move that's not been looked at for a number of years.

"There may be some children that have to walk a bit further to school, and that's no big deal."