Bus services in Paignton will be particularly badly affected

The changes by Stagecoach Devon will leave virtually the whole of the north side of Paignton without a bus service after 28 September.

Part of the circular service from Paignton towards Brixham and Goodrington is also being reduced.

Stagecoach has also revealed that the service taking students to Exeter University may also be under threat at the end of the year.

Under the changes, route seven in Paignton is being scrapped and routes one and two will become just route two.

Issued apology

Stagecoach Devon managing director Chris Hilditch apologised to passengers for cutting the services.

But he said the routes were "an absolute dead loss" and the company could not afford to run them due to a lack of users.

Mr Hilditch said the University service was subsidised by Devon County Council.

But he called on the university to fund the service instead because it was not profitable.