A HAMPSHIRE bus company has been forced to axe services - because it cannot beat the traffic.

And some services have been so late that Solent Blue Line has seen a 20 per cent increase in complaints from angry customers.

The company has hit back and says it has been forced to scrap some services to try to keep them on time.

The move follows hot on the heels of First Southampton's controversial network overhaul three months ago which sparked anger among users.

Solent Blue Line hopes its action, which comes after a 20 per cent increase in complaints about unreliability, will improve timekeeping and cut down on delays.

Last year, the Daily Echo's Bus Watch campaign was inundated with complaints from First Southampton passengers who were unhappy at late buses following network changes.

As part of Solent's winter timetable changes, the service 52 to Chartwell Green and the X52 commuter service from Fair Oak to Southampton will be axed, while the X48 service from Eastleigh will be combined with the main 48 service.

Passengers using service 15 between Southampton and Romsey will face an extra five-minute wait, while those using the 18/19 from Millbrook and Shirley to Bitterne and Thornhill will face an additional two-minute wait. Times of the 41, 42 and 45 services between East-leigh, Chandler's Ford and Southampton will also be slightly altered to take into account longer journey times because of traffic.

Solent's operations director, Peter Shelley, said the 52 and X52 services were introduced in May following a customer survey, but were not attracting enough passengers to make them viable.

He added: "We are having to take these steps because of the frustration of passengers and ourselves after being caught up in some of the area's worst ever traffic congestion, which led to so many delays in the autumn."

Mr Shelley put traffic jams down to poor weather, roadworks, installing new gas mains, the opening of WestQuay, and delays on the railways.

He urged passengers to comment on the changes, particularly in Eastleigh where discussions are ongoing with the council about worsening traffic congestion.

Mr Shelley said: "We have a team of eight people riding every journey in Eastleigh from 7am-6pm, Monday to Friday, to find out exactly what passengers think. That way, we hope to bring in any further changes to our May timetable."

Meanwhile passengers who use a late night Hampshire bus service have been reminded to check their New Year timetables as it is being withdrawn.

Solent Blue Line's number 47 is the last bus between Winchester and Southampton on the main route through Compton, Otterbourne and Chandler's Ford.

But as of January 7 the service, which used to leave Winchester bus station at 11.40pm, will cease to run.

Solent Blue Line chiefs cite changes in drivers working hours for the discontinuing of number 47.

The last bus from Winchester to Southampton will then run at 11.05pm and 10.55pm on Sundays.