BUS chiefs have come under fire after it emerged 10 wheelchair-friendly vehicles axed a month ago are ‘gathering dust’ in a storage depot.

The low-level vehicles were controversially dropped from Blackburn’s network to be replaced by double deckers, which are difficult for people with wheelchairs and prams to access.

The cost-cutting move caused an outcry, with even services to Royal Blackburn Hospital affected.

Lancashire United, which runs the network, said the vehicles were being stored at the firm’s Intack depot ahead of being sold.

And it said it was trying to purchase a new fleet of wheelchair-friendly double deckers to replace the old school buses currently being used.

But critics said it was a ‘disgrace’ they were not being used, as demonstrated by the photograph taken by a Lancashire Telegraph reader at 3pm, peak time for bus travel.

Sudell councillor and health campaigner Roy Davies has complained about the lack of ‘smart’ buses, which have floors that can be lowered to the kerb, to Lancashire United.

He said: “If they have them available, and they clearly do have them available, they should be used. Plain and simple.

“In my ward I have a lot of wheelchair-bound people who need to get to the hospital and into town, and these buses are a lifeline for them.

"People have been forced to get taxis, which are very expensive.”

The switch to double-deckers on some routes came at the end of September as part of wide-ranging changes to Blackburn and Darwen’s network in an attempt by Lancashire United to save £1million.

The firm hopes to save money by using less buses to carry more passengers.

Nigel Eggleton, Lancashire United’s marketing director, said: “The vehicles on this photo are indeed those used on the network until the end of September.

“When we made service changes, those vehicles were withdrawn from service and are in storage at present, pending sale.”