THE loss of bus services to Seaham will be among the topics under discussion at a public meeting later this week.

The meeting, on Thursday, has been arranged by Durham County Council to give people in the town a chance to raise their concerns over services.

Complaints have been voiced over bus services to the Station Road and Denehouse Road areas and the loss of links to Sunderland which had, until last year, been provided by the Go North- East company.

Representatives from the coach company will be present to hear residents' concerns and to explain why their network has changed over the years.

Officers from the county council's integrated transport unit will also attend, to discuss possible revisions to the subsidised Seaham town service.

Integrated transport officer Simon Day said: "It would be possible to revise the subsidised service to provide some links to Sunderland, but only at the expense of some reduction to the frequency of the local links in Seaham itself.

"We shall be looking to see how we can best meet local preferences with the budget we have available.''

County councillor Ron Meir said: "We have invited Go North- East so it can appreciate the local concerns at first hand, and so that residents can hear why the company runs its services the way it currently does.

"We have some ideas to put to the meeting and we want to hear local views. I hope the meeting can help us move forward.''

The meeting will be held in Seaham town council offices inAdelaide Row, at 2pm.