PEOPLE in Runcorn and Widnes "may well lose their jobs" if plans to scrap a vital bus link to Liverpool city centre go ahead.

Cllr Stan Hill, Halton Council's lead councillor for transport, said the local authority had demanded an "urgent meeting" with Arriva after it emerged the bus company was planning to axe the X1 express service from Halton Hospital to Liverpool One.

Cllr Hill said: "A large number of Runcorn councillors have already expressed their dissatisfaction at the removal of the service which we believe to be well used by local people, particularly those who use it to get to employment."

Arriva announced a consultation on ending the X1 service earlier in November, saying the route had "become unsustainable".

In its place, residents would have to rely on the much slower 500 service, which takes about twice as long.

If the plan goes ahead, Halton will be left with no express bus link to Liverpool city centre after Stagecoach announced the closure of its X5 route from Widnes in October.

Cllr Hill said: "These decisions to remove express bus services from both Runcorn and Widnes are extremely disappointing especially for those who may well lose their jobs because of the never ending drive to increase profits by big national companies."

Labour's Mike Amesbury, who is standing for re-election as MP for Weaver Vale at December's General Election, has launched a petition to save the X1, describing it as "vital" for parts of the constituency.

He said: "I've been out canvassing and picking up issues on the doorstep, and undoubtedly the biggest issue I've encountered in east Runcorn so far is the cuts to this service.

"The loss of Arriva's X1 service will be a serious blow to the people of east Runcorn who rely on the service to get quickly and reliably to and from Liverpool for work, leisure and access to medical appointments.

"We have to keep this vital service."

Mr Amesbury's petition can be found on his website, while residents have until November 27 to take part in Arriva's formal consultation, which can be found on Merseytravel's website.

Of Mr Amesbury's opponents in Weaver Vale, Liberal Democrat candidate Daniela Parker said: "Liberal Democrats do not want to see any cuts to public transport in Weaver Vale. 

"Continued investment in and support of local bus services are vital for people to get to work and to be able to visit their friends and families.

"The threat to the X1 bus service comes as we should be encouraging people to use their cars less and use public transport more to improve air quality and tackle Climate Change."

Brexit Party candidate Nick Goulding said: "It is not surprising to see regional transport services such as the X1 cancelled when the UK government is wasting billions of pounds of taxpayers money trying to turn Birmingham into a suburb of London. 

"The Brexit Party is committed to invest in local transport infrastructure outside London.

"Through the cancellation of HS2 and a major reduction in the overseas aid budget we would release around £200 billion which we would immediately invest in local transport infrastructure. 

"Services such as the X1 form a key link in the local transport plan and would be both protected and enhanced by the Brexit Party."

The other candidates – Conservative Adam Wordsworth and Green Paul Bowers – in Weaver Vale were also contacted for comment for this story.