A ROW has erupted over buses to Darwen Health Centre which passengers say are leaving them stranded on their way to appointments.

Complaints have been made by pensioners that the HC2 bus run by Darwen Coach Services, which takes in Sunnyhurst via Railway Road and Knott Street, had not been running according to timetable.

But the bus company deny that there are problems with their service.

Pensioner June Ellison, from the Whitehall area, said she almost missed a doctor’s appointment because of the service on October 2.

She said: “I waited for the 3.35pm bus, but it didn’t turn up, so I waited for the 4.05pm bus, and that didn’t turn up either.

“I ended up having to get a taxi so I didn’t miss my appointment. If I’d have known there would be this problem, I’d have booked a taxi from home.

“I know that a lot of Sunnyhurst people are complaining about this service because it very often misses.”

A spokesman for Darwen Coach Services said that he hadn’t been made aware of the problems.

He said: “There wasn’t a 3.35pm service on that day and I have no idea why the 4.05pm service didn’t call in.

“It had possibly got late on the school journey or been delayed because of the road work situation in the town.” Ward councillor for Sunnyhurst, Dave Hollings, said: “That service was funded especially for when the health service opened. It should be working because it is being subsidised.”