SCORES of residents came out in force to demand that vital bus services are not axed.

Earlier this month it was revealed that Arriva North West will no longer operate the 535 service to Belmont or its 537 route to Astley Bridge from the end of August.

The company said it was forced to act because the buses did not carry enough customers to keep them running.

Residents in Astley Bridge are desperate to see a bus continue to service the area and Transport for Greater Manchester — which has gone out to tender for a replacement service — has said it has received “a good number of bids” for the service.

The encouraging news will please 92-year-old Owen Olive, who lives in Sharples Hall Drive and relies on the 537 bus to get into Bolton Town Centre.

He joined about 50 other residents at a protest at a bus stop outside The Oaks Primary School, which lies on the current bus route.

Mr Olive — a veteran of the Normandy Landings — has had two hip replacements and said he and many of his neighbours would be lost without a bus service in the area.

He said: “It will be a disgrace if there is no bus in this area, some people will have to walk half a mile down the road and at our age that isn’t possible.

“I can’t afford to use a taxi every time I want to go into town — I rely on this bus service.”

His friend Mavis Sydall, aged 83, said: “We want to be able to get out and about for our independence, I don’t know what we would do without the bus — I depend on it.”

Transport for Greater Manchester said the decision of Arriva to withdraw the 535 and 537 services was a commercial one and said it has been exploring what can be achieved as an “affordable alternative.”

A spokesperson for TfGM, said: “We have gone out to tender for a replacement service and the closing date for these bids was yesterday.

“Whilst we have to go through the appropriate governance process, we did have a good number of bids and it is hoped that some form of replacement can be secured.”

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.

Astley Bridge Councillor Paul Wild said: “The turnout today has been unbelievable and it just goes to show how seriously people are taking this issue.

“You can see how many people rely on it — the idea of not having a bus serving this area is out of the question.”