Passengers were warned they risked losing services

In July 2003, public transport bosses said seven services were in danger of being axed because they are being underused by the public.

Nexus, which has responsibility for public transport planning, said the services - in Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Wearside - were in "imminent danger" of being withdrawn.

They all receive large public subsidies, but carried relatively small numbers of passengers.

'Halt decline'

But a spokesman for Nexus said six of the seven services had been saved following the "use it or lose it" message.

Nexus development director, Bernard Garner said: "Since we launched the campaign we have been able to halt the long-term passenger decline on these services and, as a result, are able to retain six in some from.

"In one case, the old 500 service from South Shields town centre to Lawe Top, we came up with an innovative solution that allowed us to introduce a shared taxi-type service called U Cab, that gives users an hourly service."

Nexus says it hopes its budget for secured services will be increased when members of the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority meet later this month.