PART of a long-running bus service in Bromsgrove will be axed from next month.

First Worcester has confirmed its 144 service which runs from Worcester – Droitwich – Bromsgrove – Catshill – Birmingham will terminate at Catshill from May 1.

This means the service will not run between Catshill and Birmingham.

Nigel Eggleton, managing director at First Worcester said the service has carried few passengers between Catshill and Birmingham in the last 12 months which has led the company to remove the link to Birmingham.

He said: “The upcoming service changes we have planned for 1st May are to re-align our bus network in accordance with how and when people are travelling across the working week and at weekends.

“As everyone will be aware the covid pandemic has changed many things including, people working from home, flexible working patterns, confidence in being around public places and the use of other modes of travel to get around avoiding congested places, these have all had an impact on bus services in Worcester and throughout the country.

 “Our 144 service has been established for many years and has served people very well, linking Worcester with Droitwich, Bromsgrove, Catshill and Birmingham.

“However, for over 12 months now, we have carried very few people between Catshill and Birmingham, resulting in us having to make this difficult decision to remove the link to Birmingham.”

Mr Eggleton said the changes are “to help improve reliability between locations along the route between Worcester and Bromsgrove” and “facilitate provision where there is consistent demand and use by customers”.

He added: “We are working closely with Worcestershire County Council and Transport for West Midlands to determine if there is any funding available to support the planned withdrawal of service between Catshill and Birmingham and we will update everyone with progress on these conversations”