BUS services are to be cut due to a 'massive increase' in running costs, says Dorset County Council.

The changes will take place across the county with some services being altered and others stopped.

Council principal public transport co-ordinator Peter Impett said: "There are several reasons why we cannot afford to carry on with services the way they are.

"Firstly there are companies providing commercial services who want to hand them back to the council and secondly the firms who already have contracts with us have been demanding up to three times as much money to continue running those services.

"There have also been other increases such as fuel prices and drivers wages.

"What we have tried to do is maintain all the essential services and the rest, which may be nice but not vital, are being examined again.

"Future options may include 'demand responsive' services which will allow people to call a centre and give a destination and time of arrival to an operator who will match this to other caller requests before sending a bus out. Using this means having a flexible route without fixed times."

The council have prioritised four types of journey they want to protect. These are journeys which are important for work, well-used services for children not entitled to free travel, shopping trips where there are no other travel opportunities and useful services in areas experiencing growth.

Some of the services which will be affected include the number 13 from Weymouth to Upwey Wishing Well which will be taken over by Sureline buses on October 31.

The 184 evening service between Weymouth and Salisbury will cease at the end of October.

The 212 and 216 services from Dorchester to Yeovil will operate until the end of March 2006.

First Hampshire and Dorset is likely to withdraw the X55 Weymouth-Dorchester-Poole-Bournemouth service by Christmas. Service 73 in the Maiden Newton and Bridport areas will now become demand responsive.