A BUS service which carries more than 30,000 passengers a year is facing the axe as part of a council cash saving bid.
Council chiefs are planning to cut services 20A and 20C which cover a route between Runcorn High Street and Runcorn East station on Monday to Saturday nights.
The move comes after a report revealed that the council's bill for subsidised bus services for the next 12 months will top £550,000.
The local authority has a responsibility for securing a subsidised bus network on routes which private bus companies deem uneconomic.
The council was forced to stump up £14,000 when the bus company operating the Cronton-West Bank route in Widnes said they needed more cash to run the service.
More cash was also needed to continue service 200 which connects Runcorn East with the borough's industrial estates.
The service was set up and funded with money from the Government's Urban Bus Challenge scheme and helped Runcorn residents travel to work in White-house, Preston Brook, Daresbury Park and Manor Park. It is used by 46,000 passengers each year.
However, when Government funding ended, operator Arriva North West told the council they wanted more money to continue the service and the council has had to find another £52,000.
Halton regards service 200 and the routes servicing local schools as their top priorities and believe customers using the High Street-Runcorn East service would be able to use alternative bus routes to complete their journeys.
A spokesman said: 'These services carry some 30,000 passenger trips a year but nearly all of the potentially displaced passengers can be accommodated by diverting and using other services.'
