SOME district bus services threatened by public spending cuts may have been saved.

Devon County Council had planned to reduce passenger trips by almost 400,000 this year to save £1.7 million.

After consultation it has lowered the target to less than 170,000.

The move could mean that, thanks to a partnership with Dartmoor National Park Authority, the Haytor Hopper Service 271 would not be axed but instead continue with a shorter season from May to September rather than April to October.

The 898 Ashburton service could be spared any reduction as might Sunday services on the 39 Exeter to Newton Abbot and 70/77 Newton Abbot to Highweek.

Changes to free travel using the National Bus Pass before 9.30am and after 11pm will not be implemented.

However, the 184 Newton Abbot to Teignmouth and 366 Exeter to Kenn services are still likely targets and there is a recommendation to reduce funding for Shopmobility on a phased basis with the aim of making the schemes self-sustaining.

More than 2,600 responses were received by the authority.

Transport supremo Cllr Stuart Hughes said: 'We have had a good look through all of the comments received and taken everything into account.

'This is the first time that we have proposed making public transport service reductions for four years and a budget reduction of this magnitude is impossible to implement without some impact.

'However, we are fulfilling our commitment not to leave any communities entirely isolated and the revised proposals reduce the number of affected passenger trips from 400,000 to just under 170,000 which means that 96 per cent of passenger trips on our supported network will carry on unaffected.'

Kay Yendall, manager of the award-winning Newton Abbot Community Transport Association whose team provides Shopmobility services in the town, said: 'It's come as no surprise our funding will be phased out, it's been on the cards for two years.

'The amount we receive now is not that great, anyway, and the loss certainly won't mean the end of the service. we're also looking to see if we can fill some of the gaps that will appear in the bus timetable.

'It will just mean more scrounging and fundraising on our part.'

County councillors are due to discuss the proposals on Wednesday.