RESIDENTS turned out in force to protest at plans to cut rural bus services in Rossendale.

Around 40 people went to a Lancashire Local meeting at St Mary's Chambers, Rawtenstall, to voice their anger at Lancashire County Council's proposal to stop subsidising a number of evening and weekend routes in the valley and between Rawtenstall and Todmorden.

The cuts are being considered as part of efforts to save millions of pounds to keep council tax down.

Passengers wanted to know how workers would get from Bacup to Todmorden, how teenagers would get around in the evening, and whether the dial-a-ride' service would cope with increased demand.

They were also worried about child safety if the route to Sharneyford Primary School was lost.

Barry Drelincourt, chairman of the highways group on the Local Strategic Partnership said: "I was amazed to find Rossendale is the lowest ranking for social deprivation and social exclusion and access to hospital.

"These are reasons why Rossendale needs better transport than a lot of areas.

"It strikes me these proposals are based solely on financial criteria with no consideration of social criteria."

But Stuart Wrigley, the county council's section manager for transport policy, said on some services the average number of passengers was less than one and the subsidy could be more than £6 per person.

Under the council's rules, subsidies should not be more than 20per cent and no more than £2 per passenger per journey.

County council leader Hazel Harding said the council spent £800,000 supporting bus travel in the valley, while savings made by service cuts would be £100,000.

She said: "If people aren't using it, why are we sending out empty buses and paying for them."

Rossendale Council leader Coun Duncan Ruddick said the subsidy rules were set up in 1986 and £2 is worth less nowadays.

He said: "We need to look at individual journeys and see if there are enough people to warrant that."