EMERGENCY measures have been taken by a council to maintain a bus route to a hospital after a bus company pulled out.

Abbey Coaches has announced it is to stop running the 751 or 151 route between Easington, Loftus, Skinningrove and East Cleveland Hospital, at Brotton.

The company apparently received a number of complaints from passengers and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council compiled a dossier of the complaints.

Councillor David Walsh, council leader, at one point threatened to report the company to a public transport watchdog, charging the firm with poor time-keeping, frequent breakdowns and old buses being used on the route.

He revealed that emergency action has been taken to put the service out to tender and the route will be operated by a Stockton company, Continental Coaches and Leisure Holidays, from September 16.

Coun Walsh said: "I have long prophesised that Abbey Coaches would not operate this route commercially and would have to pull out causing the council to intervene. Now, this has come to pass.

"In many ways this is very good news indeed for east Cleveland bus users as the new operator will be running to a timetable specified by the council and which will mean extra buses on the route.

"The new operator has a modern coaching stock and will, I am sure, operate a first class service."

The new timetables will be distributed to shops, council outlets and the hospital.

Fred Wren, owner of Abbey Coaches which is based at Carlin How, declined to comment yesterday.