The Tories are targeting the area with proposals to make a second year of savage cuts, making savings worth tens of thousands of pounds. Last year, seven local services through New Milton, Lyndhurst, Lymington and Ringwood were chopped. The services were used annually by about 14,000 people.

This week, Conservatives running Hampshire County Council announced that they are looking again at making even bigger cuts to services.

Councillor Alan Weeks, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on New Forest District Council says "When the County Council talks about reviewing bus services, they mean cutting bus services. They are one of the most important things the County does and we should not be cutting them".

Lib Dem District Councillor, Brenda Vincent, the member for Buckland, says, "I'm shocked by this news. The County Council should be encouraging greater use of public transport in rural areas like the New Forest".

County Councillor, David Harrison says " I'm already worried about the quality of bus services in the New Forest area. Yesterday, staff and patients waited at the bus stop outside Tatchbury hospital for buses that failed to show up at all. Further Tory cuts will make the situation worse".