AN Inverclyde dial-a-bus service is to be scrapped next year.

Connect&Go, which is run by McGill's buses and serves Upper Inverkip, Upper Skelmorlie, Kip Marina and Wemyss Bay, is to stop on January 12.

Ralph Roberts, who is the managing director of McGill's, said the service was not viable due to a lack of passengers.

He told the Tele: "It is unfortunate that this innovative demand responsive service wasn’t used more.

"Low use meant that fares from passengers on other routes were having to cross subsidise these trips and this reached a level that was unsustainable."

The service meant residents could phone and book a bus to their door or the closest pick-up point.

Residents were able to use the bus as a connecting service for onward transport such as the train, bus or ferry.

There was no extra cost to passengers using the service as they could purchase through tickets which allowed them to connect with their desired service at Wemyss Bay.

People were also able to book return journeys at the same time and if they were a daily user then they could make block bookings for the entire week.

Labour councillor Gerry Dorrian, who represents that area of Inverclyde, said he was saddened to hear the news but understands the reasons behind the decision.

He said: "I'm saddened it's going but I applaud McGill's for introducing the service in the first place.

"But the public are not using it, that's the reason it's getting withdrawn - it's not commercially viable."