PENSIONERS from Southampton and Portsmouth are joining forces to help save an inter-city bus link.

The Solent Shuttle - Solent Blueline X27 service -is being axed because Portsmouth council says it can no longer cover the costs of subsidising the hourly route which has been used by more than 200,000 commuters since it started in 2005.

As a result, Southampton City Council, who match Portsmouth's £25,000 funding, have pulled their subsidy contribution to the service.

Now pensioners from the rival south coast cities are teaming up in protest over the axe which would see an end to free travel between the destinations when the city council adopts the free pensioner travel scheme later this year.

"It is a vital link for residents in both cities," said Don Harper, chairman of Southampton Pensioners' Forum.

"It is well used at the moment and a lot more pensioners will make use of it when the free passes come into effect."

Assistant operations manager for Solent Blueline Steve Cuffs said the subsidy price was raised due to increased running costs for the shuttle.

"It is a well used service and we don't want to lose it but without the funding it just isn't viable," he said.