POLITICAL leaders in the North-East have written to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warning the regional bus network is in danger of collapse without urgent Government financial assistance.

The letter says key workers may be left unable to get to their jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The warning comes as bus companies in the region announced many services will run only hourly, and only every two hours in rural areas, as a result of the current health crisis.

Depots have been mothballed and staff sent home as a result.

Thousands of key workers rely on buses to get to their jobs, as well as people making local food shopping trips.

But overall passenger numbers have fallen by more than 80 per cent in the last week following Government warnings for people to make essential journeys only.

Now there are fears that one or more bus operators, which are private companies, could soon be in financial difficulty without Government help.

The plea comes from Councillor Martin Gannon, leader of Gateshead Council and chairman of the North East Joint Transport Committee, and Councillor Gladys Hobson, chairwoman of Tyne and Wear Transport Sub-Committee

Cllr Gannon said: “The Covid-19 outbreak has given rise to some unique challenges for the transport sector in North East England.

“Key workers in the NHS and other essential roles must be able to get to their places of work, whilst we must also follow Public Health guidance to limit the spread of the virus.

“In response to the collapse in bus patronage local bus operators are making swingeing cuts to services and furloughing staff.

“We are deeply concerned about the viability of our local bus system, both now and over the longer term.”

Cllr Gannon said the Department for Transport needed to go further than it has done so far to bridge the gap between the cost of operating key worker services and the limited public funding on offer.

In his letter Cllr Gannon said: “We urge you to provide further financial support to the bus system in order to avoid immediate loss of accessibility for key workers, as well as long-term major damage to the bus market.”