Planned cuts to bus services could be just the tip of the iceberg, councillors fear.

West Sussex County Council has announced it will no longer be able to subsidise a number of bus routes. Some of the services carry tens of thousands of passengers a year.

Among services affected are Compass Travel's number 14 from Lancing to West Worthing, which carries more than 20,000 passengers a year, and Stagecoach Coastline's numbers 6 and 10, which are evening and Sunday services in Worthing.

County council officers say for alternative services are available within 400 metres for most of the affected services.

But concerns about Worthing's large elderly population have prompted Tony Clarke, director of planning and environmental services at Worthing Borough Council, to press the county council to reconsider.

He said: "I have written to West Sussex outlining our concerns.

"I referred to our high proportion of elderly people who depend on public transport.

"I have been told the county council will carry out a review of the criteria it uses to subsidise services."

Mr Clarke said this might lead to services being resurrected or could lead to further cuts.

Other services hit include the Stagecoach Coastline 700 from Brighton to Littlehampton and Brighton and Hove Bus Company's 46 from Portslade to Southwick.

All the contracts have recently expired and not been renewed. Bus operators have been given six weeks' notice.

West Sussex Labour councillor Brian Whipp said: "It is a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul.

"Which other areas will be affected is unclear. There is no doubt that after the initial cuts there will be further cuts. It just so happens that these contracts were up at this time."

He said more than 500 residents in Southwick and Shoreham have already signed a petition against the cuts.

Roger Jones, the council's group manager for transport strategy, said this year had seen an unprecedented number of commercial bus services withdrawn in the county.

He said: "To achieve equity across the county, new criteria for procuring public transport services have been developed."