BLACKROD is becoming increasingly isolated with another bus service due to be axed.

Earlier this year the express First Manchester No 9 service between Blackrod and Manchester was cancelled after the bus company claimed not enough people were using it. Now the only bus service between Blackrod and Westhoughton is due to be axed during the evenings.

The Stagecoach and Ribble 127 service, which runs between Bolton and Chorley via Blackrod and Westhoughton, is to be cancelled during the evenings from Monday to Saturday, as from October 29. Councillors at a Blackrod Council meeting expressed their fears that the area is becomingly increasingly isolated and will be writing to Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive to ask if the 127 service can continue under another operator.