BUS passengers are appealing to transport chiefs to save a bus route in Breightmet.

They want another company to take over the 478 Blue Bus service from Bolton to Bury which was axed last week.

Indications are that the full service is unlikely to be saved even though part of the route, from Bradley Fold to Bury, will resume.

The 478 used to run from Bolton to Breightmet, then on to Bradley Fold and Bury, but it was stopped because of falling revenue. Transport chiefs later stepped in to keep the Bradley Fold to Bury part of the route.

Breightmet councillor Robert Wilkinson wants the discontinued part of the route reinstated.

"I've received complaints from people who are worried that this service has now gone," he said. "I just hope a bus operator will come forward and take on this route."

The service was withdrawn by Blue Bus because few passengers were using it and the route was losing the Bolton-based firm thousands of pounds.

Chief executive Andrew Jarvis said: "If there are not a lot of people using the bus service, then eventually we have to decide what is best for Blue Bus. We took the very difficult decision of withdrawing that service."

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive said it was unlikely that the discontinued service would go out to tender.

"We stepped in to fund part of the 478 service because there was no other bus link from Bradley Fold to Bury," she said.

"There is another service from Bolton to Breightmet which already operates in the area. Those passengers affected would have to change and catch another bus to Bradley Fold and Bury."

Greater Manchester Passenger Authority is funding the new 511 service which has replaced part of the 478 service. The hourly service, operated by Blue Bus, will run from Bradley Fold to Ainsworth, Radcliffe (Blackburn Street Health Centre) and Watling Street (Miles Lane Health Centre).