Just under a quarter of its 79 routes will be affected, including some which were recently upgraded, because they are not profitable enough.

The county council now takes responsibility for some of the services affected, but says it does not have the resources to maintain them all.

The bus operator says four routes in the county will be improved.

Stagecoach is a commercial bus operator and therefore has the power to alter or cut bus routes without public consultation County council

Overall, eight routes which were improved last summer will be cutback, and one dropped altogether.

Four long-standing routes in the county will be taken out of service and a further four cut back due to a lack of profit.

Phil Stockley, commercial director for Stagecoach West and Wales, told BBC News Online: "There has been no revenue or passenger growth on these traditional services, and our costs are rising faster than inflation."

A press statement by Gloucestershire County Council said: "Stagecoach is a commercial bus operator and therefore has the power to alter or cut bus routes without public consultation.

"Any changes the company makes could be in place by early April."