THE axe is set to fall on dozens of bus services subsidised by Lancashire County Council, it was confirmed today.

Around £500,000 of savings are being sought by the authority's environment department after council bosses declared some services were not giving enough value for money.

Currently, many unprofitable services are subsidised by Lancashire County Council to keep them going because they are deemed valuable to the community.

But now services which cost the county more than £2 per passenger are to have their support withdrawn, which will almost inevitably lead to the services being pulled.

Coun David Whipp, leader of the Liberal Democrats, claimed the cuts would affect rural areas worst.

He said: "If the county had adopted our budget plans, the cut in public transport subsidy would not have taken place.

"The most vulnerable living in rural areas will be affected by these cuts."

But Coun Tony Martin, in charge of finance at the county council, said: "Is it fair for us to run services which cost more than £2 per passenger?

"Put bluntly, we are being fleeced by some bus operators and I am not prepared for that to happen.

"We need to know we are getting value for money for everything we spend and some of the services aren't providing that."

The bus services which are to be cut have yet to be announced.

However, Lancashire County Council has allocated money to providing rural bus services and launch more Quality Bus Routes.

It provides low floor buses, lit bus stops and priority routes for the buses to make sure they run on time.