And even the timetables are missing!

A PENNY-pinching council is looking to save cash on its bus services – by removing timetables from bus stops.

Northumberland County Council claimed budget cuts meant it could no longer afford to maintain timetables and print new ones due to the ‘significant costs’.

Passengers are instead advised to check bus times online before they travel.

Campaigners pointed out that many bus passengers are elderly and less likely to have a smart phone or access to the internet at home. James Price of the TaxPayers’ Alliance added: ‘It’s a bit rich of Northumberland to cut services pensioners rely on and cite lack of funds when they have spent huge amounts on executive pay. Last year, 12 council bigwigs received more than £100,000 ... and the chief executive received more than £200,000.’

The council said it had to ‘rationalise the way we provide some timetables’ in order to ‘balance budgets’. A spokesman added: ‘People will appreciate that there are significant costs in printing and maintaining bus timetables.’