A PENSIONER has resorted to hitch-hiking to the pub following cuts to bus services in his village.

Duncan Foster, 66, of Whittington, has taken to donning a reflective vest with the message 'lift please - no buses' as he walks the three miles to Kirkby Lonsdale most evenings.

It follows cuts that have been taking place since last April, which saw the number of buses connecting the village to places like Kirkby Lonsdale and Lancaster cut from 111 per week to just five.

Mr Foster said: "I used to go to Kirkby most nights for a quick pint and to see my pals; they had a bus every hour. Now it's stopped I've had to re-think my strategy.

"It's affected the whole village of Whittington really badly. We have no pub and no shop and now no transport. Abandoned is the word we are using. We have nothing here any more.

"I know one man who has left the village because he needs to get to hospital in Kendal two or three times a week and he can't get to Kirkby Lonsdale from here to do so.

"Another couple have to use taxis to get to their weekly shop and to go to hospital. It's expensive."

Lancashire County Council cut subsidies paid to bus companies in April, saving taxpayers £7.5m a year.

However, Mr Foster highlighted the potential negative impact that cuts to public transport could have on the local economy.

"Kirkby has weekend events on - music festivals and beer festivals - that people can't get to anymore," he said.

"Late night revellers used to go into the bigger towns on Friday and Saturday night, but there's not a late bus any more. I'd like to see that re-instated.

"I'm beginning to think it's a pipe dream. I moved here five years ago. There are four cottages up for sale where I live and an estate agent told me she couldn't sell them because there is no public transport."

Lancashire County Councillor John Fillis, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "As a result of continued government cuts to our budget, and rising demand for adult social care services, we have been forced to reduce our support for buses from around £7m in 2014/15 to £2m this financial year.

"Even if we increase Council Tax by the maximum 3.99 per cent every year for the next four years the county council will still need to save a further £148m by 2020/21.

"Transport to rural areas has been particularly affected by reductions in council funding as the cost of supporting each passenger journey on routes which will never be commercially viable can be very high.

"I have written to the government to ask them to establish a special fund for rural buses in recognition of the difficulties faced by people in rural communities who rely on public transport.

"We have offered to provide a vehicle, and officers' support and advice, to parish councils which may want to operate their own community bus service."