Hospital patients and schoolchildren are among passengers hit by the axing of a bus link.

The hourly 14 and 14A service, which had run from Monday to Saturday between Accrington and Blackburn Hospital, will cease to serve Fern Gore, Green Haworth and Broadfield as of July 26.

Alternative services will be available for Fern Gore and Broadfield residents, but not Green Haworth.

Phil Turner, headteacher at Green Haworth Primary School, said the cutbacks would affect some pupils.

He said: “This bus service to the hospital is a lifeline, the wellbeing of the parents directly impacts the wellbeing of our pupils. Around 15-20 of our children use this service every day.”

Mr Turner said that LCC had offered to extend the service that currently goes to Mount Carmel High School as a replacement.

He said: “We’re thankful that they’re providing something, the issue is that the majority of children pay 77p per child per day return on the current bus. The flat rate for travelling on the LCC service is £2.55 per child.

“For our parents that have three children that becomes very expensive.”

Immanuel ward councillor Judith Addison said: “Green Haworth will be completely cut off and anybody who doesn’t have a car or who has had to give up driving will be cut off. People use this service to go to and from the hospital for visiting and appointments, if they can’t drive or can’t get a lift, they will end up having to use taxis which can cost a lot of money.”

Lancashire County Council (LCC) said Blackburn with Darwen Council has withdrawn £93,000 per year of financial contributions to cross boundary bus services, therefore they are no longer in a position to continue their contributions.

LCC said the majority of trips from Green Haworth were made by school children, up to 15 per day.

The county council confirmed they would be extending the 867 School Bus service, but that fares will be charged in line with LCC’s ‘school bus service flat fare structure’.

A county hall spokesman said: “In order to maintain an hourly Monday to Saturday daytime link between Ribble Valley and Hyndburn districts and Royal Blackburn Hospital within the resources available, the route between Accrington and the hospital will be revised to operate direct via Oswaldtwistle.”

Blackburn with Darwen council declined to comment.