THE future of a Nelson bus service could be under threat after a string of accidents and delays caused by parked cars.

Local councillors are planning to consult residents to discuss solutions to problems in Chapelhouse Road and the issues will be discussed a meeting of Nelson Committee next month.

Burnley and Pendle Buses transport manager Russell Revill said parked cars prevented buses getting close to the pavement and had caused "a number of minor incidents" where buses had collided with vehicles. He said: "We have flagged this up as a problem. We have a meeting with Lancashire County Council later this week where the issue will be discussed again.

"It's a fairly narrow street and in particular at evenings and weekends we have problems getting standard single deckers there and pulling in and out of bus stops.

"If you are in a situation where you can't get through it brings the whole service in the area into question. At the moment there are no plans to withdraw the service. We would like to negotiate a solution rather than take a drastic action and we are confident a solution will be found. Withdrawing the service would be a last resort."

Leading firefighter Pete Basford, from Nelson fire station, said: "This is a problem we have all over Nelson and the parked cars do slow us down, though we can still get through."