RESIDENTS in Teesside are calling for an explanation after a bus company announced "drastic" proposals to cut several of its services later this month.

Stagecoach will axe a number of its buses on routes throughout Stockton from Sunday, April 24. But customers say the reasons have not been properly explained.

Campaigners insist that the cuts will make travelling difficult, with only one bus an hour on some major routes.

The cuts include the complete withdrawal of all buses along Bishopton Avenue, and the reduction of evening and Sunday services on Elm Tree Avenue and Harrowgate Lane from half hourly to hourly.

They also feature the withdrawal of evening and weekend buses along Bishopton Road West between the Rimswell pub and Elm Tree Avenue junction, in addition to reductions in other parts of the Elm Tree ward.

"I am angry that Stagecoach have only just announced these drastic cuts," said Suzanne Fletcher, Stockton Borough Council's member for the Elm Tree ward.

"The council has already set its budget for subsidised services, and so will find it difficult to plug gaps which appear suddenly.

"Cuts without any consideration and consultation should not be allowed. There should be an emphasis instead on the needs of passengers, and giving a quality of service where people are encouraged to use buses more, not less."

Resident Julia Roberts, said: "These changes are not just a problem in themselves, but have not been properly explained to passengers.

"The bus companies have a responsibility to the public who pay the fares at least to explain the changes.

"I am calling on them to set up a hot line to give proper information to people so they know when and where they can catch the bus".

Meanwhile, Brian Miles, chairman of campaigning group Transport 2000, said: "I think it's the end of the proper bus network. It means that 75 per cent of buses on some routes have gone since 1990.

"There were four an hour in 1990. Now, in some cases, there is just one."

Stagecoach is believed to be losing money on some of the routes and has given eight weeks' notice of the changes, but nobody from the company was available for comment last night.