A FORMER Mayor of Hyndburn, who is fighting against the removal of part of a bus service, has thrown down the gauntlet to her opponents and asked them to leave their cars at home.

Alderman Cath Tom has made a direct challenge to the directors at Lancashire United, county councillors and borough councillors to experience travelling on buses for a week.

She said: "I want them to carry bags of shopping and prams, especially on the small service we'll be left with."

Her challenge comes after Lancashire United announced it would remove a section of the 6/7 Hyndburn Circular service, which goes close to Fort Arms, in Lower Barnes Street, on April 27.

And although M&M have promised to extend its hourly service to every half hour, Mrs Tom said the buses are too small and difficult for mothers and elderly people.

Mrs Tom, of Willow Close, was mayor of Hyndburn between 1992 and 1993, and is a former borough and county councillor. She said if the Lancashire United service was removed pensioners living near Lower Barnes Street will not have a suitable service.

"When we sold the buses off to Stagecoach in 1993, the company promised it would not alter the bus routes. Lancashire United took over in April 2001 and they have started to make changes.

"What I want is for those who appear at Hyndburn's bus forums, the likes of Russell Revell and other directors, Martin Hindley and other county councillors and Tim O'Kane and other borough councillors to leave their cars at home and use the buses for a week."

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope, said: "I've been in touch with Lancashire United about this, without success. But if I were them I would not take on Cath Tom, I would just give up gracefully now."

Cath's councillor John Burke, said: "I think it's a great idea, but we should do it for a month, that way they will truly know what it feels like to use the buses."

Robert Tuffnell, of M&M, said: "It's just not practical for me to give up my car, I start work before 6am -- before the buses start running, but I use the buses all day and I go on that particular service inspecting tickets. Graham Mitchell, communications manager for Lancashire United, said: "It is an interesting idea and my colleagues will be looking at it with interest, but it does not seem to us to reflect the commercial situation and the difficulties with congestion we are having to face."

Coun Jean Battle, deputy leader of Hyndburn Borough Council, said: "The services are not brilliant, but you can't run a service with two or three people on them, it is just not viable."

Coun Peter Britcliffe, leader of Hyndburn's Conservative group: said: "I can see where she's coming from and I really would support her 100 per cent, if I didn't have my car, I don't know what I would do."

A Lancashire County Council spokesman said: "Public transport officers use public transport, as do councillors. We are aware of the points that Mrs Tom is raising and we're happy to continue to talk to her."