BUS passengers in Timperley and Wellgreen have been hit by the loss of four bus services.

The company LA Coaches announced on Saturday that it was withdrawing its commercial bus routes with immediate effect.

Transport bosses say they are powerless to prevent the company from axing its 281, 283, 298 and 299 services, as they are not subsidised.

But LA Coaches will continue to operate services that are subisdised - the 109, 177 and 178, and school services 717 and 767.

Cllr Matt Colledge, who represents Timperley ward and is Trafford's spokesman on the Greater Manchester Transport Authority (PTA) said: "I am very concerned about the effect this will have on a huge section of the bus travelling public. Many people, and in particular the elderly, will be affected.

"I have spoken to the passenger transport executive (PTE) to see if they are going to put services on as an emergency measure, and if they are going to get another company to come in."

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive's (GMPTE) interim service delivery director, Michael Renshaw, said: "Eighty two per cent of all bus services in Greater Manchester are run commercially by operators such as LA Coaches, and GMPTE has no control over where or when these services run.

"GMPTE subsidises the remainder of the network that would not otherwise be provided and we do have control over these services. We have obtained assurances from LA Coaches that they will continue to run the services that they run under contract for GMPTE.

"Most sections of the withdrawn routes are already served by Arriva but we are working with other operators to restore a link along Moss Lane and Grove Lane as soon as possible.

Usually operators must give a notice period if they intend to withdraw commercial services. The traffic commissioner is currently looking into the situation and we have confidence that she will deal with the operator in the appropriate way.

"We hope that the proposed Local Transport Bill will give sufficient powers to local authorities such as GMPTE to prevent situations like this occurring in the future."

Last year, bus passengers in Timperley protested at the rerouting of a lifeline bus service. The route of the number 11 bus from Altrincham to Stockport was changed to by-pass Timperley Village.