A bus company has been criticised for not listening to complaints over timetable changes.

In September, Eastbourne Buses cut the 7/7A from a half-hourly service to hourly.

Managers scrapped the Number 2, which ran every 20 minutes from Hampden Park to the town centre, and the Number 3, which left every half hour from Asda.

The town's Green Party said the company had received dozens of complaints but has not responded.

Party spokesman Clive Gross said: "Residents are furious at the way Eastbourne Buses brought in these changes and have completely ignored their concerns ever since."

With further planned changes to routes 1 and 1A, the party fears more people will abandon buses in favour of cars.

Green campaigner Leslie Dalton said: "We have heard of a gap-year student working to save money for university having to take a taxi into the town centre to arrive at work on time as the bus service has now become so unreliable.

"Their extra travel costs mean they are effectively losing an hour's pay every time the buses fail."

Greens believe bus-users' groups involving residents should be set up and consulted by Eastbourne Buses before timetable changes are made.

Mr Gross said: "Eastbourne needs to follow Green councillors on Norwich City Council who passed a motion calling on the council to set up a quality bus contract with their service provider.

"Under Government legislation, such contracts can be set up to effectively re-regulate buses, giving councils power over routes, fares and proposed timetable changes.

"This, combined with meaningful consultation with bus-users, seems to be the only way to get our local services out of their current crisis."

Eastbourne Buses chairman Patrick Warner said: "In short, the company could not afford to run the old network of services in the way it was without seriously risking both the future of bus services in Eastbourne and the employment of those who work for the company."