A NIGHT bus service that runs from Bristol to Yate and Chipping Sodbury will be scrapped next month.

Operators First Bus have decided to remove the weekend 47A Night Bus service from Bristol through Downend, Frampton Cotterell, Coalpit Heath, Yate and Chipping Sodbury towards the end of April.

The 1.31am and 3.31am weekend services will be stopped on April 30, after which the latest bus available will be at 11.35pm.

Cllr Paul Hulbert, chairman of the Parish and Town Councils Night Bus Group, said that it was simply “not economic” to run the service anymore.

He said: “These late night buses have, in the past, been supported by town and parish councils along the route, but now First have doubled the amount of money they want as a council subsidy.

“Passenger numbers have fallen, on average only 13 passengers are using each bus.”

The councillor explained that other bus companies had been asked to supply a night service, but that these were even more expensive.

He said: “Councils would be paying a subsidy of £6 per person, so First have simply priced the bus off the road.”

“We're sorry to see the end of it, but if you add up the subsidy and the bus fares for 4 people, it comes to more than the cost of a taxi.”

A spokesman for First Bus agreed that the problem came down to low passenger numbers, with many journeys only being used by a handful of people.

He said: "The night bus from Bristol City Centre to Chipping Sodbury is a subsidised route with the council.

"Despite the financial support from the council, the limited demand ensures that this service does not cover the operational costs.

"The council is unable to support the shortfalls and consequently decided that it does not represent good value for money.”