ROSSENDALE'S "county rider"' dial-a-ride bus service is set to replace evening services on several of the borough's regular routes.

Lancashire County Council is pushing ahead with plans to scrap several subsidised services, despite opposition from residents.

Instead, the area covered by the "county rider"' service which allows people to pre-book buses from rural communities will be widened.

The county rider service was launched in January 2005, and uses four disabled-friendly minibuses, between 7am and 11pm, Monday to Saturday.

It costs the county council £2.13 per passenger, per journey, slightly above the authority's maximum of £2.

But officers hope more people will turn to it once other routes, running at much higher subsidies per passenger journey, are axed.

A spokesman said: "It will now provide a replacement service to cover for service revisions elsewhere."

The 482 evening service between Rawtenstall and Balladen is also being axed to save £5,900 along with its Sunday service.

There will no be cover for the Sunday service. The 49 between Rawtenstall, Bacup and Todmorden which runs hourly on Monday to Saturday remains under review but its Sunday service, the number 50, is being axed.

Other Rossendale services, including the number 3 from Rawtenstall to Waterfoot, the 11 and 12 Helmshore Circular and 483 Rawtenstall to Water are being revised to save money.

On Sundays and bank holidays, services will be reduced to run between 10am and 7pm.

During the week, services will end at 8pm, with people needing links between Rawtenstall, Waterfoot, Edgeside, Haslingden, Newchurch or Water using "county rider" instead.

Dropping the evening services will mean the average passenger subsidy will fall to £1.49. The revisions will save Lancashire County Council £36,983.

Coun Duncan Ruddick, leader of Rossendale Council, said: "The Rider service is very good, but if it's to be a replacement, then more needs to be spent on publicity so people know."

County councillor Tony Martin, in charge of transport at LCC, said: "We will ensure people know about replacements."

LCC hopes to save £170,000.