TWO 'lifeline' bus services in Bolton are to be axed.

Arriva North West has confirmed it will not operate the 535 service to Belmont or its 537 route to Astley Bridge after Sunday, August 30.

The firm says it was forced to act as the the buses did not carry enough customers to keep them running.

But residents who rely on them to get into Bolton could be left stranded without a route into town.

Warren Fox, a member of the Liberal Democrats in Astley Bridge, said: "One resident who contacted me was 81 and said she wasn’t ready for giving up yet, and the bus service was the only way she could get into town.

"This bus service for some is a lifeline. It is a long way to get down to Blackburn Road for some to get on another route.

"You would only need a handful a day. Just enough so that people can plan a trip to town.

"I will be keeping an eye on the situation to ensure that Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) actually follow through with their promises of tendering out for this service.

"What plans do they have in place if the tender process is unsuccessful?"

TfGM is putting the contract out to tender but the replacement will be dependent on an acceptable bid being received.

A TfGM spokesman said they were assessing the impact on local bus users.

The 537 runs off Blackburn Road up Ashworth Lane and Thornham Drive, while the 535 goes up Belmont Road through Sharples and ends at Belmont.

Arriva had already made the 537 service a non-peak time route, moving the start of the service back to 9.15am from 6.55am.

It is understood that Arriva had planned to work the 537 inter-peak service around a school service, which they were unsuccessful in retaining.

A spokesman for Arriva Bolton said: “From Sunday, August 30, Arriva will no longer operate Bolton services 535 and 537. Unfortunately these services do not carry enough customers to maintain the routes, despite our best efforts to operate as efficiently as possible.

“We understand that Transport for Greater Manchester is looking to provide support for a service to maintain transport links in the affected areas. The 534 is unaffected by these changes.”

A spokesman for TfGM said: “We have recently been advised by bus operator Arriva that they intend to withdraw their commercial 537 bus service from the end of August. As such, we are currently are assessing the impact this will have on local bus users and will be in a position to advise on our response closer to the time.”