HARSH cuts to bus services are preventing people from taking up jobs, visiting sick relatives, shopping and going to college, a stinging report by MPs warns today.

The loss of vital routes – particularly in the evenings and at weekends – is spreading "anger and concern" among passengers affected, the Commons transport committee said.

Now its report has urged the Department for Transport (DfT) not to "wash its hands" of responsibility for the "disappearance of the only public transport that may be available in some places".

And it warned the problems were about to get worse, saying: "Local authorities seem destined to make deeper cuts to their bus service budgets in 2012-13 than the current year."

The committee's chairwoman is Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Riverside, who said Liverpool was among the places where young people were being hit by the bus cuts. From next month, the city council will scrap travel passes for thousands of post-16 students to save an estimated £800,000, with only some with special educational needs protected.

Mrs Ellman said: "I'm very worried about what will happen to transport to colleges and the impact of higher fares on the choices that young people will make about their futures."