CALLS for a co-ordinated campaign to reinstate a late night bus service vital to West Somerset's economy are growing.

Bus company First announced at the end of July that it was axing some evening journeys on its 28 service between Taunton and Minehead because they were not commercially viable.

Buses now no longer run from Minehead after 6.40pm during the week, with return journeys from Taunton stopping at 8pm.

The move has sparked widespread concern among local councillors and business groups.

And this week Watchet Town Council, which has already voiced its opposition to the move, called for a co-ordinated campaign against the cuts to be led by West Somerset Council.

The town council said it was unhappy with the response from First, which cited the need for the commercial viability of the service.

And it wants to see a joint campaign to restore the service from town and parish councils along the A39 and A358 route, with local colleges and three of West Somerset's major employers - Butlins, Tesco and Morrisons - also coming on board.

But the authority is also calling on Somerset County Council to subsidise the route, which is commercially viable during the day but not in the evenings.

At their monthly meeting on Monday, councillors said the axing of the late night journeys affected local jobs and education.

But Cllr Dave Westcott said the only way First would listen to the local pleas was to make the service financially viable.

"The only way that will happen is to enable the company to get a grant," he said.

"The county council supports other bus routes in Somerset - we should ask them to switch some of their subsidies onto this route.

"As a commercial outfit, First is not going to put on buses that are going to lose a substantial amount of money."

Cllr Peter Murphy said he agreed that the council should work with other town and parish councils affected and that the district council - of which he is also a member - should be urged to take the lead.

And he said he agreed the county council should be pressed to look at subsidies.

"In rural areas in particular, bus services cannot survive without subsidy," he said.

"In economic terms, an effective public transport service is important.

"We are talking about jobs and people's further education chances."

In response to a letter from the council, a First spokesman said evening routes had had to be reduced because passenger patronage was not at a level that would enable it to continue a commercially viable service.

The spokesman also said the council's suggestion of a minibus service or one late bus each way could not be economically integrated into the company's overall schedule.

"We will continue to monitor the service 28 on a ongoing basis and if it becomes commercially viable we may consider restoring late evening service," said the spokesman.