THE lack of bus services into Andover is destroying businesses in the town, according to a leading retail manager.

Chantry Centre manager Joe Azzopardi is angry that transport into the town from outlying areas is severely restricted - particularly on Sundays.

He says traders in the town are losing out to shops in neighbouring towns and cities where public transport links are better.

But Hampshire County Council says current services are sufficient - although transport bosses are considering running special Sunday services for farmers' market events next year.

Mr Azzopardi said: "The bus service is so limited. Sunday services are virtually non-existent because they are not economically viable. It means Andover is cut off from the rest of the world.

"No effort whatsoever is being made to overcome this. "Andover shops are being bled to death and I'm hopping mad about it.

"We have at the moment the biggest retail threat in the history of the town and we don't do anything about improving transport.

"It's crazy and it's my retailers who are suffering."

While it is already considering farmers' market buses, the county council says there will be no additional services into Andover at any other time.

A spokeswoman said: "Hampshire County Council spends over £200,000 on subsidising bus services into Andover. There is a reasonable network of services from rural areas into the town, and within the town must buses operate without subsidy - with one route running as frequently as every ten minutes.

"The county council is always pleased to hear any particular concerns about the provision of bus services in Andover.

"Discussions are taking place on the introduction of additional services into Andover when the Farmers' Market takes place - on seven Sundays next year."

Borough councillor Rod Bailey also stressed his concern at the lack of bus services into the town at weekends.

Speaking at a recent Test Valley Borough Council executive committee, he said: "The Chantry Centre and the Leisure Centre have put on a number of events on Saturdays and Sundays near Christmas, but there were no buses running and that disappointed me."