Warning over autumn bus cuts

The boss of Bristol’s biggest bus firm has warned it will axe services this autumn due to funding cuts.

First West of England’s manager, Doug Claringbold, has also apologised for ‘unacceptable’ numbers of bus cancellations.

At a South Gloucestershire council meeting, Mr Claringbold said a shortage of trained bus drivers was, in the main, the reason for the dropped services.

Mr Claringbold added that the doubling of wages in the HGV (heavy goods vehicle) sector had lured many staff away, while others had returned to Europe.