A BUS company accused by residents of making drastic cuts to many of its services has promised that the network will not suffer, despite axing some of its routes.

Stagecoach in Teesside will stop running a number of its buses from Sunday, April 24, leading to complaints from residents that it will make travelling more difficult.

But the company has insisted that other routes have been improved to compensate for the cuts.

A Stagecoach spokesman said: "Stagecoach are not making 'drastic cuts' in its services - indeed, some services are being improved.

"Some evening and Sunday services will be reduced in frequency due to the low number of passengers using them at these times."

She confirmed that buses are being withdrawn from Bishopton Avenue, but added: "This is due to the very few passengers boarding at the two sets of stops on this section of route, as our research shows.

"These changes are designed to deliver customer improvements to Stockton as a whole, and include some increased frequencies, more direct routes and quicker journey times.

"We hope our customers will soon benefit from these changes."

The spokesman added that new bus guides and leaflets would be delivered to residents in the affected areas shortly.

But Brian Miles, chairman of Transport 2000, a group opposed to the changes, said: "They are drastic as they come after several changes in the last two years.

"On some routes, like Bishopton, it's the first time in memory that there's been no bus service. Less than ten years ago, there were four to seven buses an hour on that route.

"There's probably thousands of people affected."