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Nearly half of bus routes are at risk of being scrapped due to a funding crisis, town halls warn as they battle Tory austerity.

The 12,700 services which councils subsidise are in danger because the money may have to be diverted to deal with a £652million funding shortfall for the free bus pass scheme.

Town hall leaders said it could mean “older people having a free bus pass but no bus to travel on”.

Hundreds of thousands of people could lose the bus services they rely on as cash-strapped councils continue to be squeezed.

(Image: Andy Commins/Daily Mirror)

Local authority leaders are warning that almost half of bus routes are at risk of being scrapped. It stems from local authorities facing an annual £652million fund­ing gap for the free bus pass scheme for disabled people and over-65s.

Councils in England say this shortfall means they cannot spend as much on the roughly 12,700 bus services they subsidise, putting them at risk.

These subsidised routes make up 44% of the total number.

Leaders want the Government to reinstate the full fund­ing of the free bus pass scheme.

Martin Tett, Local Government Association transport spokesman, said: “Properly funding [it] is essential if the Government wants councils to be able to maintain our essential bus services.

“If this is not addressed... it could lead to older people having a free bus pass but no bus to travel on.”

Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald said the £652mill­ion shortfall “shows the utter contempt the [Tories] have for the mode of public transport used by most

ordinary people”.

Town halls are obliged to pay for the bus pass scheme but are having to cope with much less cash from central government.

The Department for Transport said it helps councils subsidise bus services through £250million worth of investment. It added there is a further £1billion for the free bus pass scheme.

The LGA says more than 3,000 supported bus services have been reduced or withdrawn since 2011.