CROWDS of people have turned out in support of a rally against bus cuts this morning.

Lewes Stop the Cuts group organised the protest from 11am in the Lewes Shopping Precinct, near the bus station.

The organisation, which previously launched a petition already signed by 7, 000 people, said it is warning against proposed cuts to services and hikes in fares, calling on every county councillor to vote on the decision instead of East Sussex County Council's cabinet alone.

Group spokesman Chris Smith said: “With such strong opposition to the bus cuts it is undemocratic for such a small group of councillors to take the decision. Our rally will tell the council that it is unacceptable.”

The event will conclude with a march up to County Hall, in St Anne's Crescent, Lewes to present a big, symbolic, red bus to the council as a mark of the group's campaign.

Nearly 100 bus services across Sussex face cuts as the county council looks to save £1.79 million. Lewes, Uckfield, Rye and Hastings, as well as some routes through Brighton and Hove, are among the areas affected. They are services operated by companies including Stagecoach, Compass Travel and Brighton and Hove Buses.

The council said it subsidises a number of routes which would be “economically unviable” if run privately without council subsidies.

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