LIBERAL Democrats in Hampshire are furious that the county council is to impose £165,000 cuts in bus services. The cuts include two early morning buses on the King Arthur's Way Service A from Monday to Friday.

And on Service B (The Drove) the council is removing two evening services from Monday to Friday, although both services will continue during the day.

A spokeswoman said: "Our research found that the early morning and evening services are very poorly used and we could not justify their continuation."

But Lib/Dem transport spokesman Cllr Keith House said: "Bus users were told during the budget process that there would be no cuts to bus services.

"We warned at the time that there was a big shortfall in the budget but we were not listened to."

The bus cuts throughout the county come into effect during May and June.

"It is no surprise that this will happen immediately after May's elections and not before.

"This is a cynical ploy by Hampshire's Conservatives who cannot be trusted with Hampshire's buses."

He added: "Hampshire Conservatives are cutting services for those most in need of them and creating more traffic congestion through extra car journeys."

But council executive member Cllr Keith Estlin said: "There have been some real pressures over the past year, with the cost of supporting services rising by around 20 per cent. "Despite this, the county council will be spending £7.1 million in 2002/03 - an increase of 10 per cent on this year - to enable many services not only to be maintained, but improved.

"There will be some housekeeping service reductions on a few very poorly used bus routes, which will take place over the next couple of months.

"This forms part of the county council's usual practice of regularly reviewing the value for money that it gets from services.

"I'm confident that the overall package of developments for the next financial year demonstrates that the county council continues to invest in public transport as an important means of tackling social exclusion and offering a viable alternative to the private car.

"We are doing this in a way that targets resources to where there is demonstrable demand for public transport provision."