THE FREE bus between Halton and Warrington hospitals is being axed as part of a £2m cost cutting exercise.

The vital link for patients who do not have a car will cease on October 29.

Finance director John Doyle, said: "It is not feasible or cost effective for us to continue to provide the bus service which attract a usage of 20-30 people per day at a cost of £1,000 a week."

It is part of a bid to reduce the hospitals' £6m deficit to £4m by March, 2005.

Chief executive, Ian Dalton, said: "We are currently around £350,000 overspent against the targets we have set this year to ensure that we further reduce our historic deficit by £2m.

"We need to take remedial action now to ensure that this is brought back on track by the end of the financial year."

Vacant posts have already been frozen to save money.

Plans to move Halton Hospital's switchboard to Warrington is another way health chiefs hope to axe cash.