A FLEET of new buses linking Wear Valley to other parts of the North-East has been launched.

Go North-East has invested about £750,000 in four, new wheelchair-accessible double-deck buses for the 724 service between Bishop Auckland, Spennymoor, Chester-le-Street and Newcastle, and its evening and Sunday service, the 722.

Following the closure of the Bishop Auckland depot, Go North-East is updating and improving services in the area.

Acting on passenger requests, the company is also introducing a new service, the X22 from Ferryhill to Newcastle, which provides hourly, Monday to Saturday links to Durham, Chester-le-Street and Gateshead.

Martin Harris, commercial director at Go North-East, said: "This investment in the 724 service is a significant step for Go North-East and is a clear commitment to the high quality of service provided throughout County Durham.

"As well as these excellent new buses on the 724, we have added an additional later journey in the evening, and additional early morning journeys on the 722/724 service. We have also added new links to Newcastle from Ferryhill and Newton Hall with our new X22 service."

For more information, customers are asked to call Go North-East customer services on 0845 60 60 260.