A NATIONAL bus company that is about to expand its fleet has been urged to introduce up-to-date coaches into a County Durham community.

Durham County councillor Morris Nicholls has been waging a one-man campaign against Arriva North East, which he claims has been using old and deteriorating vehicles in Peterlee and surrounding villages.

The age of the buses has caused people to be late for work, miss hospital appointments or to be left without a service at all, he says.

In his bid to change the situation, Coun Nicholls wrote to the company's chief executive, Bob Davies.

Yesterday, the councillor revealed he had received a reply from the company boss expressing his dismay over the problems that some of Arriva's services had been causing, particularly in the villages of Deaf Hill, Wheatley Hill and Thornley.

Mr Davies, who forwarded his letter to The Northern Echo, accepts that there have been times when operations had fallen below standards which customers have a right to expect.

He said: "These were caused by various engineering-related problems at our Peterlee depot and all the staff at this location have been working very hard to ensure that we provide a reliable service."

He also revealed that the company is finalising plans for the purchase of new vehicles in 2005.

But he added: "I am unable to say for certain whether we will be able to improve the age of the vehicles on the service operated by our Peterlee depot."

In response, Coun Nicholls said yesterday: "I don't blame the mechanics or drivers, they have an impossible job trying to keep ageing vehicles on the road.

"And I will be replying to Mr Davies urging him to introduce some new buses into the Peterlee depot. While things have improved, there have still been recurring problems.''