THE Worcester News can exclusively reveal plans to axe evening bus services in the city.

Councillors claim the proposals will turn Worcester into a 'bus-free city' if they are allowed to go ahead.

First Bus intends to make changes to 24 bus services in Worcestershire, with at least 10 evening and late night services in Worcester being scrapped under the plans.

County councillor Paul Denham, who represents Worcester's Rainbow Hill ward, said: "If this goes ahead bus transport will become a daytime offer, there will be nothing in the evenings.

"They [First Bus] are saying they can't make enough money out of them [evening services] as usage in the evening is not as much as in the day.

"We need to restore some of the subsidies that were making to the bus service.

"Millions have been cut from the bus budget since 2010."

Cllr Denham, also the Labour Party's local spokesman for highways and transport, said the cuts would particularly affect elderly and vulnerable people, who could be left housebound by the changes.

He added that they would also impact patients and NHS workers who rely on buses to get to Worcestershire Royal Hospital at night.

City councillor Richard Udall added: "Worcester is going to become a bus-free city at night.

"I say the county council needs to plug the gap. The service has been decimated."

Cllr Udall said some of his constituents in Dines Green are employed in the night-time economy and use buses to get to and from work in the city centre.

Sarah East, head of operations at First Worcester, said the company is making minor adjustments to most of its services in the city.

She added that the firm told the county council about the proposed changes on July 6 and is still awaiting a decision as to whether the council will provide support.

County councillor Alan Amos, cabinet member for Worcestershire's roads, said: "We'll work with First Bus to ensure they are fully aware of residents' needs in the urban and rural areas of the county."

The following Worcester services will be affected by the cuts: 30, 31, 31A, 31U, 32, 33, 35, 37, 38, X38, 43, X43, 44, X44, 51, 52, 53, 54, 332, 333, 363, 373 and X50.

The 365 Malvern to Upton service will also be hit.

The cuts are due to be introduced from September 17.