EVENING bus services faced with the axe are to remain for now but bus bosses have warned commuters they will lose them if they don’t use them.

First Bus has revealed it will keep the Friday and Saturday evening 30 bus to Dines Green at 10.45pm and the 35 bus to Blackpole and Warndon at 11.10pm running when new timetables come into force on Monday, September 17.

Passengers have been warned the services are only remaining as a trial whilst the bus company continues to assess the future of the service.

Sarah East, head of operations at First Worcester said: “I am pleased to confirm that the late evening journeys that ran on Friday and Saturday evenings on routes 30 to Dines Green and 35 to Blackpole and Warndon have been retained under trial with a slight adjustment to the departure time.

“This decision will give people one final opportunity over the next couple of months to use the journeys to make them viable, before a decision is made as to whether they will continue or be withdrawn.

“Over the last 12 months we have worked hard to increase passenger numbers on the commercial services ‘at risk’ unfortunately the additional marketing and support by local communities hasn’t been enough to make the services sustainable.

“We are aware the Worcestershire County Council is assessing the impact of the commercial reductions, however we appreciate their public transport budget is fully committed.”

A spokesman for Worcestershire County Council said: “We appreciate the work by First Bus to try to make these services commercially viable and we will continue to work with them.

“We are aware that they have invested a significant amount of time and resource and we regret that passenger numbers haven't increased enough to make these routes viable."

City councillor Richard Udall, whose patch covers Dines Green, said: “It’s a brief extension but I welcome it nonetheless.

“I’m just a little concerned that the bus service is ending a little too early for the people who do need it.

“People who used the bus told me they were devastated when they found out it was going to be cut.

“It is a safe route for people who have worked late night or have been on a night out and need to get home. The bus would be their only means of getting back and really it is a safety concern. They don’t want to be walking through the city late at night on their own.

“I welcome that First Buses have extended the service for now and I hope it will continue. More than anything I hope they can consult with the paying passengers about the future of the service.”