BOSSES have axed a bus which was used to ferry one student to college and replaced it with a taxi - to save a fiver!

Ismail Patel, 55, had the chauffeur-driven bus to himself until the Lancashire Evening Telegraph revealed details of his lone 80-mile round trip from Blackburn to Ormskirk.

Now bosses at Edge Hill University College, Ormskirk, say the bus has been replaced by a taxi.

Mike Frain, director of Edge Hill Enterprises, the funding arm of the college, said: "Since the matter was brought to our attention we have now decided the remaining students on the course should come to college in a taxi.

"It's only fractionally cheaper, around £5, and that will continue until the end of the course in May."

Car driver Mr Patel, of London Road, Blackburn, also stood as an Independent Labour candidate in the council elections. He is studying for an MA in European Union Studies and was travelling with other students from the Blackburn area until they decided to finish the course at home.

Mr Patel revealed how the driver waited six hours outside the college until he was ready to return home. But Dr John Carter, chief executive of the college, defended the move.

He said: "We will honour our commitment to get those students to Ormskirk until the course finishes.

"The quote of £60 from Blackburn District Transport remained the most competitive, given the numbers who could have availed themselves of this service.

"The deployment of a particular vehicle and decisions over the use of that vehicle and driver during the rest of the day are, of course, matters for the bus company, not ourselves."

Mr Patel was unavailable for comment.

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