THE number of journeys made by city buses on certain routes is to be cut, according to the operator First.

However, Dawid Maciejewski, First's communication manager, said these services would be supplemented by others.

"They are not core services.

"They are not frequent routes, they are services that we have operated to a large extent on the periphery of the network."

He said the reduction was because fewer people are using certain services and it would be better to divert resources to improve more popular routes.

Among the changes, which will be implemented from Monday, the number 24, Worcester - Lower Wick service, will be reduced to seven journeys a day, on Mondays to Fridays, from every 30 minutes.

The route will be replaced by the number 37/38, Worcester - Blackpole - Barbourne - Worcester, between Lower Wick and the city centre, running hourly off-peak.

The core network service 44, which runs every half hour along Malvern Road will be additionally supplemented by the 363 and 364, which run hourly along Bromwich Road.

The number 22/22A, Droitwich to Worcester service, will be covered by the core network route 144, which runs 35 buses per day, Mondays to Saturdays, with nine journeys on Sundays.

"First will continue to develop and improve the core network routes within the city to provide the best service possible," added Mr Maciejewski.

Brian Hunt, chairman of the Worcester City Forum for Older People, said the theme seems to be "use it or loose it."

He said First is only interested in those services that make a profit.

Public service

"The idea of 'public service' seems to have been completely removed from the equation," he said.

"If we look at it as a service for the public that is accessible, which the Government says it should be, then we seem to be moving away from that."

Mr Hunt warned that fewer people on buses means more motorists on the roads adding to the city's congestion problems.

"If they can't use buses they are going to use cars. Not many pensioners cycle."