BUS bosses have been criticised for threatening to withdraw three services in the area within a few weeks of putting up fares.

First is reviewing services 95, 553 and 554 after claiming the numbers of passengers using these services are lower than those using other buses.

Service 95 links Bolton, Breightmet, Radcliffe, Whitefield, Prestwich, Carr Clough and Pendleton via Kersal; the number 553 links Bolton, Walkden, Boothstown, to Leigh via Astley and service 554 links Bolton to the Trafford Centre via Farnworth, Little Hulton, Walkden, Worsley and Eccles.

But Cllr Nick Peel, Bolton Council's representative on the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, says people are being put off bus travel because of constant price rises.

First recently hit passengers with a seventh price rise in 30 months, pushing fares up by an inflation-busting 10 per cent.

And concessionary fares have risen from 50p to 70p.

Cllr Peel said: "Fares are the biggest single reason that people don't use buses and First has just increased its fares again.

"I've spoken to them about all three routes and they are talking about withdrawal, route change or decreased frequency."

Bosses at First are working with Bolton Council, the GMPTE and Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) to improve the number of passengers using the bus routes.

They say if there is an increase in the numbers of passengers, the services could remain unchanged.

But First has said there is a possibility it could withdraw the services.

If the 95 service is withdrawn, it would leave Darcy Lever, The Haulgh and parts of south Breightmet without public transport.

Cllr Peel said: "It would be an absolute disaster if the 95 service was lost."

Simon Bennett, First's network director for bus services in Greater Manchester, said: "Commercial services 95, 553, and 554 run Monday to Saturday in the daytime only and attract no financial support of any kind.

"We have shared a number of possible suggestions as to how we believe it may be possible to increase the number of people using these services"

Bus bosses say they have to come to a decision on the three services by February 16 in order to provide 56 days of notice of changes, for implementation on April 15.

Options vary from no change or minor amendments to significant changes or the withdrawal of services.