BUS travellers in West Somerset were dealt a mixed blow this week with news of a cut to services.

The First company announced it was axing the 702 West Quantoxhead to Minehead route from next Monday because it was uneconomic.

In future, villagers will have to walk a few hundred yards to the main A39 to pick up main route bus services between Minehead and Bridgwater.

But there was better news for travellers from Blue Anchor following the decision by Williton-based Bryants to withdraw all its local routes because of the cost of meeting new standards for disabled passengers.

West Somerset-based Blue Motors is introducing a twice-weekly service from the village to Williton, Watchet and Minehead, which will replace in part the axed Bryants' service.

In Stogumber, Cooks will be providing an additional once a week service from the village to Taunton.

The changes follow an announcement last November that a quarter of Somerset's bus services -- including many key routes in West Somerset -- could be withdrawn in a double blow dealt by First and Somerset County Council.

First had already announced a series of cuts before Somerset County Council warned it could lop £200,000 from its public transport bill in a move to peg this year's council tax increase at 4.5%.