PASSENGERS have registered their 'disgust' after bus route cuts left them with a limited service.

Travellers are angry that operating company Arriva withdrew part of the 411 Birkenhead-Ellesmere Port-Chester bus which goes along Rossmore Road West, Rother Drive and Westminster Road.

It means Rossmore and Westminster passengers must instead use the revised 111 service, calling at Grace Road and George Street once an hour.

Derek Bowes, commercial manager for Arriva North West and Wales, said: 'From April 23, the 401 service (renumbered from 411 to run Monday to Saturday) was re-routed to operate via Overpool Road and Sutton Way.

'This was due to customer research indicating the revised route would be of more benefit to more customers.'

But resident Jeanette Powell of Rossmore said: 'It's absolutely disgusting. Now there is only one bus an hour, and when you catch it, there are no seats to sit down. It's always packed now. Even pensioners are having to stand.'

Mary Lockett, 74, of Grace Road said: 'I used the 411 regularly with my grandson, and feel very let down by the cuts.'

And a woman who used to catch the 411 to work and back said: 'I now have to trek to the town centre bus depot. It puts an extra hour on my travelling time every day.

'And what about all the elderly people who cannot get to the doctors or hospital without having to trudge over the bridge?

'Arriva says this cut was due to customer research but I find that hard to understand,' added the woman, who didn't want to be named.

Last month, Arriva also axed the 411/412 Chester-Ellesmere Port-New Brighton Sunday evening service, leaving the Port with no buses that day after 7pm.

Mr Bowes said: 'This is because it was not carrying enough customers to justify a fully commercial service. However, it does continue to operate during Sunday daytimes.'

Arriva has also withdrawn the 488 from Ness Gardens and 487 from Parkgate, and replaced them with new services; withdrawn the 7 Loxdale & Kendal Drive circular; revised the 4 Great Sutton & Stanney circular; and revised the 4 Chester via Stoke & Wervin following customer demand.