bus bosses have been slammed after failing to perform a U-turn over a controversial decision to alter two routes in East Renfrewshire.

Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, had hoped management at First Bus would agree to reinstate the full 4 and 4A services.

It was in late 2016 that the firm announced it was reducing its service in Eaglesham by removing the Polnoon Street and Montgomery Street legs of the 4A route.

The company also announced the number 4 service would terminate at The Avenue Shopping Centre, meaning there would be no access to the west side of Ayr Road.

After meeting with Mr Carlaw at the time, First Bus vowed to review both services a year later.

However, following fresh discussions with the Conservative MSP, bus bosses still refuse to budge.

Mr Carlaw said: “I remain disappointed with the decision by First Bus to reinstate neither of these services, which are of key importance to the good people of Eaglesham and Newton Mearns.

“In understanding the experience of local residents, I have attempted myself to walk the steep hill on Polnoon Street, carrying shopping in all weathers, and it is not a task for the faint-hearted.

“Attempting to negotiate the hill is no doubt doubly difficult for the elderly and infirm.

“I shall continue to robustly pursue this matter with First Bus, whose cuts are affecting the lives of my constituents.”

Duncan Cameron, operations director for First Glasgow, said: "We continually review all of our service routes in order to not only ensure the efficiency of the service, but also the amount of customers using the service.

“Unfortunately, we have had no improvement in passenger numbers across this route.

“We regret any inconvenience that has been caused by the changes we made to the service but, at this stage, we don’t have any plans to reinstate the routes.”