HALF of local bus routes have been axed as private operators choose the most profitable operations and abandon those that provide much-needed services to communities, analysis shows.

Labour research found today that 8,000 routes have been slashed since 2010 — 2,000 of them in the last year alone.

The West Midlands was the hardest hit region in England, with over two-thirds of local bus services lost since 2010, it found.

Labour also warned that the cuts are likely to get worse when the government withdraws taxpayer support from 23 per cent of subsidised services, axing another 400.

Previous analysis from Labour stated that in 2022 the total number of miles driven by buses plummeted by 175 million compared to 2016.

Labour shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said: “The staggering decline in local bus services under this government is nothing short of vandalism against our communities.

“Millions of people rely on these essential services, but they are being left without a voice as routes are cut back year after year.”

She said that Labour would “put passengers first by allowing communities to take back control over their bus services.”

The franchising process would be simplified under Labour and a Tory ban on municipal bus ownership would be dumped.

Alice Ridley from Campaign for Better Transport said: “Buses keep people and communities connected and are crucial to the economy.

“To prevent further cuts and grow the network back to the level needed the government must change the way buses are funded and replace the multiple and competitive funding sources with a single, long-term funding pot.”

The Department for Transport was contacted for a comment.