Buses ferrying the elderly from their homes and children to their schools may be axed in a bid to save funds.

A decision is due this week on whether to accept West Sussex County Council recommendations to cut eight bus routes.

Tex Pemberton, cabinet member for transport and highways, will decide on Thursday.

There is a shortfall of £900 million due to a lack of Government funding and the ending of donations from housing developers.

A Bus 4 U service, which transports many elderly and disabled from their rural homes, has been earmarked for closure.

Chris Chatfield, managing director of Compass which operates the service, said he was very concerned about the closure.

He said: "While the number who use it isn't huge, it serves a wide area and is a lifeline to many people in villages for whom there will be no alternative."

Diane Henderson, of West Sussex Age Concern, said: "In my 15 months here and have found that social isolation is one of the biggest problems.

"Any project we try to set up we can't because the elderly cannot get there."

A second planned Compass route between the Witterings and Selsey, near Chichester, is also tipped for closure, even though it hasn't even started yet.

Three routes operated by Metrobus have been shelved, including the Oriel High School run between Pound Hill and Maidenbower in Crawley.

Metrobus commercial development manager Nick Hill said: "We are seriously concerned by the potential impact this could have on bus users in West Sussex and are working with the council to negotiate an alternative."

The other Metrobus routes being tipped for the axe are the East Grinstead to Gatwick commuter route to Manor Royal and the Crawley to Brighton service on Sundays.

A daily service between Cowfold and Worthing, run by Flights, is also under threat as is a Sunday service between Pulborough and Burgess Hill, run by Stagecoach.

The decision to cut services in rural areas and for schoolchildren comes as the county council is due to subsidise travel for young people.

From September, under-16s will pay quarter fare and over-16s in fulltime education will pay a half fare.

Councillor Pemberton said the measures were "regretful" but said the loss of Government funding and money paid by local developers meant they could not afford to subsidise bus operators further.

He said: "By granting young people subsidies we hope to have more children on buses which could end up saving the routes.

"I regret the impact of cuts but no transport would be at risk if it was being used."

In the council report to be considered next Thursday, officers said the council faced a funding gap of £796,000 in this financial year, rising to £892,000 next year and beyond.

A spokesman for West Sussex said it hoped to mitigate some of the lost routes by using community services such as Dial A Ride.

Do cutbacks in public transport affect you? Leave your comments below.