A union has become the latest group to hit out at planned cuts to a west end bus service.

Unite said plans from First Bus Glasgow to scrap the west end section of the route covered by the 4A bus show the urgent need for regulation of services.

Bosses spoke out following an Evening Times story telling how Conservative MSP Adam Tomkins had set up a paper petition for locals opposed to the cuts.

Jamie Caldwell, Unite the Union’s Scotland Community Co-ordinator said: “Bus regulation would give power to local people - through their councils – to decide how local bus routes should be designed and run.

“It’s ironic that Glasgow Conservative MSP Adam Tomkins is now running a campaign to save the 4/4A service. We hope it signals a change in heart in the Scottish Conservatives, and that they will back Unite’s Haud the Bus campaign to have Scotland’s bus services placed back under public regulation.

“We urge all Glasgow MSPs who care about better transport to get behind regulation of bus services in the city.”

Unite has previously set up a ‘Haud the Bus’ campaign against service cuts in North Lanarkshire and worked alongside the Get Glasgow Moving campaign for better public transport in the city.

The union now plans to take the campaign to the next stage with a petition to the Scottish Parliament, calling for legislation to regulate bus services and look at options to bring them all into common ownership.

A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: “We can assure Unite that we won’t be pursuing Jeremy Corbyn’s policy of nationalising every fragment of public transport.

“This is simply the case of a local MSP championing the needs of his constituents.

“You don’t need bus regulation to ensure good-quality services.”

A spokesman for Mr Tomkins said he would not comment on public regulation of buses but said the MSP is pleased at the response to his paper petition.