TRANSPORT chiefs have confirmed the North East bus network is being hit by cancelled services as result of a shortage of drivers.

Post-Brexit labour shortages, Covid-related sickness and huge backlog are being blamed for the current crisis.

Gateshead Council leader Martin Gannon, chairman of the North East Joint Transport Committee and Martijn Gilbert, chairman of NEBus, the local bus operators association, said the situation was exacerbated by Government incentives for driver to take up HGV work.

Read more: Teen's TikTok vids about mental health issue go viral 

The shortage of tanker drivers has meant petrol stations have run dry in recent week as people panic buy fuel to avoid running out themselves.

In a joint statement, Cllr Gannon and Mr Gilbert said: “The bus network in the North East, like many other sectors, is being impacted by a national shortage of qualified drivers.

“We acknowledge the impact that this is having on passengers and communities through a higher level of bus cancellations than usual.

“Our region relies heavily on its bus services and too many people are seeing their daily journeys affected.

“Our bus companies are doing the best they can to minimise disruption, but under very challenging circumstances.”

The statement said it was a national issue.

It said: “It is the result of a number of complex factors including post-Brexit labour shortages, which has seen a large number of skilled workers leave the UK, higher levels of Covid-related sickness or absence and a huge backlog nationally in driver testing.

“All of this together means that bus operators have daily shortfalls in the number of drivers needed, but they aren’t able to train up new drivers quickly enough to fill the gaps.

“The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) estimates there is a shortage currently standing at 4,000+ bus drivers in the UK – this is an alarming figure and one which the Government must address with haste.

“The situation was not helped by the Government writing to a number of bus drivers last week encouraging them to return as HGV drivers.”

Cllr Gannon and Mr Gilbert called on the Government to take urgent action to speed up driver training and licensing while the longer term structural issues in the UK workforce are worked through.

They said they will work together to minimise the impact that labour shortages is having on our communities.

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: "We are working closely with the bus sector to mitigate workforce issues, as we have done throughout the pandemic.

“Additional capacity is being made available for HGV, bus and coach tests. DVSA is working closely with the logistics industry to encourage them to make best use of this additional capacity.”

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054