BUS company First is being urged to rethink its plans to axe a vital evening service between Minehead and Taunton by reinstating just part of the route.

As reported in the Free Press, the company announced last week that none of its buses would run on the route after 6.40pm on Monday to Saturday evenings, while return journeys from Taunton would stop at 8pm.

The changes to the number 28 service are due to take effect from Sunday (July 28), with First citing the lack of passengers and commercial viability as the reason.

But the West Somerset Labour Party has asked the company to preserve the service linking Minehead to Watchet and Williton in the evenings.

Branch secretary Andy Lewis said First was proposing to run an 8pm bus from Taunton, arriving in Minehead at 9.17pm.

But it would then return to the county town 'out of service', not picking up any passengers.

However, the Labour Party wants the bus to take passengers as far as Williton, via Watchet.

"We think this is common sense," said Mr Lewis.

"Under First's current plan a 'ghost bus' will leave Minehead at about 9.30pm each evening - on its way to Taunton but not carrying any passengers.

"This cannot make sense. Young people in particular rely on this service.

"Without it, social isolation will increase and opportunities for people to work in Minehead in the evenings will be lost.

"We hope people in Washford, Watchet and Williton will support us in asking First to reconsider."

The branch has written to First regional network manager Simon Ford outlining its proposal, suggesting the change would not be fantastically expensive but would make a big difference to people in West Somerset.