DOZENS of bus services in Hampshire are to be cut in a move that will leave hundreds of residents stranded.

Hampshire County Council is set the wield the axe in a desperate effort to save money.

The authority says it needs the cash so it can continue to pay for its massive adult services budget, which ran millions of pounds into the red last year.

However, those against the plans say they will hit some of the poorest people in the county and are calling on the county council to urgently reconsider its plans.

The council wants to shave £500,000 from its £6m a year bus subsidy budget by culling 58 services running to all parts of Hampshire.

Among the proposals are plans to cut all subsidised Sunday evening services and Sunday daytime services that are not heavily used.

The worst-performing weekday services will also be axed, as will weekday services where passengers have alternatives - though this includes options where people will have to walk more than half a mile to another bus stop.

Routes due to be halted include the Solent Blue Line service on Sundays between Southampton, Eastleigh and Fair Oak, which is used by an average of 21 passengers per trip. This will now run hourly.

The Conservative-run county council said it had been forced into the proposals due to financial pressures and had deliberately picked services used less by older and disabled people.

The move has sparked widespread opposition. Eastleigh Council has passed an emergency motion calling for a re-think, while Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne, who is also the Liberal Democrat environment spokesman, said he was concerned for young people and pensioners.