A PROTEST has been launched to prevent residents being "stranded" by the decision to axe three bus services.

Lancashire County Council has decided to withdraw the 3A service from Accrington to Huncoat and the 15 and 18 Accrington town circular services on evenings and Sundays.

The circular services link Accrington with Fern Gore, Church Kirk and Dill Hall but all three services are now being withdrawn because of low passenger numbers.

Huncoat ward councillor Dave Parkins said he is furious at the cuts and he has called on the borough council to write to county hall urging a U-turn.

He said: "It is going to strand a lot of people in Huncoat. Once we have lost these services we will never get them back again."

According to county council figures, average passenger numbers per trip in the evening for the 3A is three, there are only two on the number 15 and six on the number 18. On Sundays there is an average of two passengers per trip on the 3A, and three per trip on both the 15 and 18 services. Withdrawing the buses would save the county council £48,917 a year. A county council spokesman said attempts were made last year to keep buses running by halving the service.

The cuts will be discussed at a meeting at Scaitcliffe House, in Accrington on Monday, at 7.30pm, and the final decision will go before County Coun Tony Martin, cabinet member for sustainable development, on Tuesday, February 7.