Bus giant Stagecoach has refused to alter a seafront service to pick up more elderly passengers.

Tory councillor Brian Oxley asked Stagecoach to consider diverting some buses on route 700 from Kingsway to Church Road in Hove via Hove Street rather than Grand Avenue.

The move would have filled a gap left by the decision to end the western section of route 147 in October. This is used by people at the far end of Kingsway to visit Hove Library, George Street and Hove Town Hall.

But Stagecoach divisional manager Mark Turner said: "We feel that commercially the current route provides the best compromise for the differing needs of this market."

Coun Oxley said: "Naturally I am disappointed at the response."