AN MP has got behind the fight to keep a leisure park bus service.

Essex County Council has started a consultation over whether to cut the only bus route from Wickford to Festival Leisure Park in Basildon.

The council, which subsidises the 236 service, claims it costs too much to run.

The Nibs service, which runs from Basildon Festival Leisure Park to Wickford, via Ghyllgrove, The Gore and Basildon Hospital, costs County Hall £8.13 per passenger, per journey.

It runs hourly from 7pm to midnight, Monday to Saturday.

MP for Basildon and Billericay John Baron is encouraging residents to have their say about the service, which began in March 2012 following years of false starts and a £60,000 subsidy from County Hall.

Mr Baron said: “It is used by a wide variety of people, including the elderly.

I am writing to Essex County Council explaining my concerns.”

The service will continue to operate until Saturday, August 30, when the contracts expires.

People can have their say by writing to Passenger Transport Liaison Team, STC, Essex County Council, Council, County Hall, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1QH or email Passenger.

TransportLiaison@essex.gov.uk before Friday, June 27.