BUS users have criticised transport bosses for withdrawing a service to the Trafford Centre.

South Lancashire Travel has stopped running the 300 express service from Bolton to the Trafford Centre on weekdays claiming the route is losing money.

"The 300 was an excellent service, getting to the Trafford Centre in 20 to 25 minutes, " said one passenger who did not wish to be named. "Now, we have to go on the 22 service or the 68, both of which take over an hour to get there.

"Many people depended on that service to get them to the shops at a time when they could avoid the weekend crowds.

"They should reinstate this service."

The company’s bus network manager Chris Almond said the route was unprofitable. He said: "The reason behind the withdrawal is that it is unprofitable. The majority of the passengers that used the service we either concessionary pass holders, or System One ticket holders.

"We do get reimbursed for accepting these but it was not enough to continue running the service.

"Added to this, Transport for Greater Manchester is gradually reducing the number of school services that they pay for, and this left us with the decision to withdraw the service as the bus was unable to make a profit on the entire day's work."

He added: "We, along with any other bus operators, make many decisions based on how school services fit around the network as these provide essential revenue.

"I approached TfGM several weeks before the withdrawal and they decided not to offer to subsidise the service as there are other buses between Bolton and the Trafford Centre, albeit that they take considerably longer to get there.

"We do intend to keep the service running on Saturdays, and we are going to continue to run it as part of our popular network of Boxing Day services."