Bus services between Ipswich and nearby villages have been cut by Suffolk County Council, with low passenger numbers and rising running costs blamed.

In a new timetable, coming into effect from Sunday April 14, First Eastern Counties has merged routes 70, 70A and 71, scrapping connections to the villages of Hasketon, Bredfield, Dallinghoo, Charsfield, Clopton Green, and Burgh.

Routes 78 and 79, linking Ipswich, Nacton, and Levington, have also been withdrawn due to low passenger numbers.

A spokesperson for Suffolk County Council, which has oversight over the bus routes, said: “Operational costs have increased significantly in recent years at the same time as passenger numbers have declined on many bus services.

“The average passenger numbers on the withdrawn services were very low. We try to preserve as many services as possible but, given current budgetary pressures being faced by the council, we cannot justify paying for buses which aren’t being used.

“In areas where services are being withdrawn, our Connecting Communities operators can be contacted to provide journeys or connections to other services when they are required.”

The Connecting Communities service currently operates for Suffolk Coastal, but will be extended to the affected villages, and can be booked for travel Monday to Saturday.

Two new routes have also been introduced connecting Stowupland to Stowmarket town centre via Cedars Park, with six days of free travel next week as an introductory offer.

These new routes are supported by the government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan and will mean there will now be a bus every 30 minutes six days of the week.

The one 74 bus journey on weekdays has also been replaced by changes to school service 975.