A consultation on the future of the bus service launched this week as the county council aims to save almost £1.5 million.

Hertfordshire County Council's initial proposals to cut evening and Sunday services have been modified on the back of last year’s consultation.

County Hall is now suggesting it will withdraw funding from services after 7.30pm rather than 6pm.

It also plans to withdraw funding from contracted services on Sundays, except for routes going directly to hospitals which would run until 7.30pm.

Hertfordshire Liberal Democrats have condemned the latest consultation by the Conservatives.

Prospective parliamentary candidate Sandy Walkington said: "They got the wrong answer  first time round when local residents roundly rejected the proposals so they are trying to batter us into submission.

“Which part of no do the Conservatives not understand?  Liberal Democrats have already shown that all the required initial savings have been made.  There is a breathing space for a proper review of all services with the operators and no need for this vindictive slash and burn approach.”

The council says only two per cent of people in the county will be affected by the new changes.

If approved later this year it will save HCC £1.471m and change 760,000 journeys.

Councillor Terry Douris, cabinet member for highways, said: "We are committed to engaging with as many residents and stakeholders as possible. We are proposing a later cut off point for contracted services to 7.30pm rather than 6.30pm and will protect services that directly serve hospitals on a Sunday up to 7.30pm.

"We have also listened to residents’ comments about the amount of money we give to individual passenger journeys and are seeking to establish a clear, value for money approach by setting a limit on the amount of subsidy we provide to individual journeys."

The consultation closes on April 10. To have visi:t www.hertsdirect.org/busconsult.

The findings of this consultation will be reported to the highway panel in May before a decision is made by cabinet. Any changes will take effect from September 2015.