BUS services in Bolton will be reduced in frequency or have their routes curtailed after Bury bus depot closes.

All run by First, the changes will affect passengers across both Bolton and Bury boroughs, including those who use major routes between the two.

The changes will be effective from April 23, the date confirmed for the closure of First’s Bury depot, in Rochdale Old Road.

First had previously said that the closure would not affect services.

Some Bury to Bolton journeys on the 471 will be withdrawn in the early morning and evening, with no changes to the first or last journeys.

A new timetable will be introduced for the 511, which runs from Bolton to Bury via Darcy Lever, Ainsworth and Walshaw, with buses generally running seven minutes later than currently, and some seldom-used journeys will no longer run.

The 524 from Bolton to Bury via Little Lever and Radcliffe will be reduced, but there will be no changes to first or last journeys.

Alan Theu, aged 71, a bus user from Fishpool, Bury, said he might have to give up his season ticket at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton as a result of the changes.

He added: “If a production finishes a bit late, sometimes I might have to wait nearly an hour for the bus to take me back to Bury.

“In the winter it can be so cold. It’s not fair on the public. I will have to think seriously about whether to buy a season ticket for the theatre next year because I don’t want to be standing there freezing while waiting for the bus.

“It would be such a shame to miss out on the theatre because of something like this.”

There will be minor timetable changes to the 8 and 22 services from Bolton to Manchester and Stockport respectively, which both go through Farnworth and Kearsley, and changes to timing points along the routes — the stops where drivers wait if buses arrive earlier than expected.

There will be also be minor timetable changes to the 37 from Bolton to Manchester, via Farnworth.

Phil Medlicott, managing director of First Manchester, said: “We aim to keep changes to a minimum when amending services or timetables, but I would like to reassure customers that the majority of changes are made to improve service reliability.”

All services affected are commercial services and not subsidised by Transport for Greater Manchester.

A spokesperson for TfGM said: “Operators are free to decide if a particular service should be amended or withdrawn, based on their own commercial considerations, including general viability and whether or not other alternative services are available or nearby.

“TfGM, which is funded by the 10 districts of Greater Manchester, remains committed to maintaining a network to meet a social need that can’t be met by the commercial market. Subsidising general bus services is one of the largest budget allocations made by TfGM — around £15 million.

“While the budget for this is being maintained in 2017/18 any additional request for TfGM to support bus services, for example if a commercial service is de-registered, would have to be funded through efficiencies as there is no additional budget allocated this year.

“All support for bus services is considered extremely carefully, with each case assessed on its individual merit.”