BUS services in parts of England could disappear due to funding cuts, warns a report.

Some 47% of local authorities are reducing their support for buses for 2013 with a number threatening to remove all support in the next financial year, says the study.

Entire networks of bus services are at risk of collapse, according to the Buses in Crisis report published by Campaign for Better Transport.

In the last year, there have been £17m of cuts in the budget for support buses in England. Plans for cuts of £48m have already been announced for future years.

The research makes clear that 2014-15 will be a very difficult year for bus services.

This year, many local authorities have deferred any cuts to 2014-15 to allow for the legal process of public consultations to be carried out.

There are also reports of local authorities proposing to cut a high percentage, and in some cases all, of their supported bus services.

Campaign chief executive Stephen Joseph said: "The situation on the ground is increasingly bleak as local authorities struggle to find savings across the board.

"This report is not about shaming local authorities who have made cuts but simply to highlight the realities of what is happening across England and Wales.

"We have discovered some examples of good practice from local authorities but also stories of hardship from real people affected by cuts to their bus service."

The Rural Services Network contributed to the report.

Rural Services Network chief executive Graham Biggs said: "Buses, trains, and bicycles are a crucial part of everyday life – whether it's commuting for work, getting to school, visiting friends and family or attending an appointment.

"Yet in many parts of rural England transport is not working, making it difficult for people to reach jobs, schools/training, shops and services."

With more people using buses than all other modes of public transport combined, the report argues for increased political attention should be given to buses.

A new approach should include agreed minimum standards of access by public transport to facilities such as hospitals, colleges and areas of employment.

This standard could be set by central government and implemented by local government through access plans, says the study.

The document also calls for a new approach to funding.

Much support for buses comes from councils and the Department for Transport. But buses also contribute to the objectives of other departments, such as work and pensions, health and education.

In future, the report says access to key facilities and services should be paid for by pooled funding from across those departments that benefit from good bus services.

This would be ring-fenced and distributed to local transport authorities.

Long term investment plans for buses would give the industry and local authorities certainty and help plan investment in vehicles and infrastructure, says the study.

This would mirror the 'control periods' which exist for the railways and are now being introduced for the English strategic road network.

The government should seek to grow the number of bus users by fully funding concessionary travel for younger and older people, argues the report.

There is also a strong case for introducing a bus bonus scheme which would give a tax break on the cost of a bus season ticket to those in work or apprenticeships.

Supported buses are services that are subsidised by local authorities because they are not provided by commercial bus companies.

They serve communities where no alternative route exists, meaning that any cut or alteration can often have a huge impact on residents and local economies.

They also provide services in evenings and at weekends when otherwise services would cease.

These subsidised or supported services represent 22% of bus provision in England.

This percentage varies considerably across the country, ranging from just 5% in some urban areas to almost 100% in some rural areas.

Research in the study was based on responses to Freedom of Information requests made to all local transport authorities regarding supported buses.

The full document can be downloaded here.