The politicians are concerned about the withdrawal of the K2, K7 and K9 services run by operator Stagecoach.

The transport firm last month confirmed it would be axing the routes due to low passenger demand and increasing fuel costs.

The removal of the services means there will be no direct link between Templehall and Asda and Victoria Hospital, with passengers instead required to connect via the town's bus station.

Kirkcaldy MSP Marilyn Livingstone blamed inadequate budgeting by the Scottish Government for the loss of the services.

She said: "The UK Government through the Comprehensive Spending Review provided funding equivalent to 5.84p per litre for bus operators.

"But the SNP decided not to pass this on to Scottish operators and have indicated that no further fuel duty will be rebated in the next three years.

"The choice not to pass on this rebate when fuel prices are so high seems perverse and it has been highlighted by the Competition Commission as one of the main reasons for recent fare increases in both Glasgow and Edinburgh."

Labour councillors Neil Crooks, David Ross and Judy Hamilton represent parts of the town which are directly affected by the changes, including Kirkcaldy Central and Kirkcaldy North.

In a joint statement they claimed elderly people in their constituencies had reported concerns about how the withdrawals would affect their access to Victoria Hospital, Mitchelston Industrial Estate and the east of Kirkcaldy.

The councillors and Mrs Livingstone will be meeting with Stagecoach this week to discuss the changes to its timetables, and in particular the Kirkcaldy routes.

Fife Council leader Peter Grant said the local authority had followed the correct statutory guidelines laid out for proposed bus route changes.

Responding to the comments, he said: "Any reduction in bus services is disappointing but the councillors are over simplifying and misrepresenting the differences in support for bus services in Scotland and other UK countries.

"For example in Scotland we have a national concessionary travel scheme that lets people travel anywhere in the country.

"In England they have 90 individual schemes, each valid only in their own area.

"Figures for England are distorted by the massive public subsidies given to services in London.

"Even including these amounts there is little difference in funding per head of population between the two countries.

"On a proper like for like comparison, we provide significantly more support here in Scotland.

He added: "You only need to look at the problems facing industries such as road haulage and air transport throughout Britain to know that they are caused by massive increases in fuel prices, not by the Scottish Government."