A LEADING councillor has accused bus companies of using a town centre scheme as an excuse for cutting costs.

Councillor Tom Mawston, a member of Middlesbrough Borough Council's cabinet, protested after the companies' decision to reduce services operating out of the town's bus station, which the firms say is to help keep buses running on time.

He asked: "Are they using the council's changes to town centre traffic flows as an excuse to move services from the bus station, and to cut costs?"

Arriva and Stagecoach announced changes to their timetables, in response to a six-month experiment to make the town centre more pedestrian friendly, which started yesterday.

Arriva has moved nine services that used the bus station to stands outside the town.

Its spokesman said: "We refute Coun Mawston's claim we are attempting to cut costs. We took the decision to maintain reliability and punctuality."