VILLAGERS have been warned they could lose a new bus service unless more passengers use it.

The 176 route was introduced last November to take people directly from the Lumley area to Durham.

Stops include the city's University Hospital and the Arnison Shopping Centre.

It was established following a joint bid by Bournmoor, Great Lumley and Little Lumley parish councils for Countryside Agency funding under the Vital Villages Parish Transport Scheme.

Durham County Council also provided money for the service, which is operating on a one-year trial.

But passenger numbers are only half those anticipated and funding could end unless figures improve.

Local county councillor Brian Walker, who is also chairman of Great Lumley Parish Council, played a leading part in the grant bid.

He said: "It was fantastic news when the new service began operating because, until then, residents wanting to travel to Durham City have had to change at Chester-le-Street, a journey of more than an hour.

"This is a direct link which only takes 38 minutes and was established as a direct result of numerous requests from local people.

"I am sure that a lot of the problem is that people don't know of its existence.

"But unless we get more bums on seats we could lose direct access to a range of important services in Durham City.''

The 176 starts at Fencehouses and stops at Bournmoor, Woodstone Village, Great Lumley, Cocken, the Arnison Centre, Framwellgate Moor and Aykley Heads.

It runs three times a day. There is an early morning service for workers and a mid morning and lunchtime service for shoppers and hospital users and there are two return journeys.