TWO bus services in Malvern are being cancelled as part of a shake up by Worcestershire County Council.

While other services are being saved as part of a rescue package, the 42 bus from the Chase school to Fruitlands, and the 44A from St Joseph's RC Primary School to Malvern Link and Barnards Green will both be withdrawn from service on Monday.

Operating company First announced in November that it was going to withdraw several services around Callow End, Upton and Malvern as well as other locations around the county.

But the county council has now agreed to plough an extra £300,000 into subsidising the Callow End buses until August.

The rescue measures have allayed fears that elderly residents in the village would be left without a much-needed service into Worcester.

Without the 363 service at 9.30am and 3.15pm, elderly residents were concerned that it would be difficult to travel to the city where they collect pensions or visit the doctor in St Johns.

Now another operator, Robin's Travel, will operate similar services to and from Worcester at 9.05am and 2.45pm.

County and district councillor Tom Wells, who lives in the village, was delighted with the council's decision.

"If we are serious about persuading people out of their cars the bus service has to be reliable," he said.

Other changes to services will see the withdrawal of the 7.45am journey on bus 44, between Worcester and Malvern Link, Pound Bank and Great Malvern. The rest of the 44 schedule continues unchanged.

The 389 service between Upton-upon-Severn and Tewkesbury will change slightly at 9.50am on Wednesdays and Saturdays, from Wednesday, January 22. At those times the bus will travel via Longdon, instead of the regular route via Naunton and Ripple.

A revision will also see one less journey serving West Malvern and Malvern Wells on 675 service from Ledbury through Colwall to Great Malvern.