A NORTH EAST bus company has issued a statement after dozens of further services were left unable to run - with more disruption expected throughout the week.

Go North East has issued the statement after more services were cancelled on Wednesday following what it says is due to a "national driver shortage."

It has been publishing a list of services cancelled ahead of the day throughout this week as buses in County Durham and Tyne & Wear have been hit.

This comes as The Northern Echo previously reported claims that some staff had 'walked out' over pay and conditions following concerns raised earlier this year.

Read more: Go North East respond after bus drivers claim staff are ‘walking out’ due to pay

However, in a statement on Wednesday, the company again said it had been faced with a national driver shortage and short-term increase in those on the sick.

Meanwhile, it said that just two percent of all services operating had been affected, despite publishing a list showing at least 20 routes had seen services cancelled.

It said: "Due to a national driver shortage, reflecting labour shortages now being seen in many sectors across the country, and a short-term increase in sickness absence, we are having to make some on the day cancellations to journeys on some routes across the Go North East network.

"Details of the affected routes and journeys are being shared daily, in advance, on our website, on social media and through our smartphone app which also includes live bus tracking."

Explaining that it would now be publishing a list of likely cancellations each evening ahead of the following day, it said paper copies were being handed out to colleagues at depots to help advise customers. 

They said: "This is a short-term problem affecting just over 2 percent of Go North East journeys. We are making all reasonable efforts to cover the journeys, even as the day progresses.

"We are actively recruiting more colleagues through our training school and are also now working on some more stable emergency timetables which will come into operation on the worst affected routes over the coming weeks. Further details will be published when finalised.

"Efforts are being made to avoid the cancellation of any consecutive journeys, or the first or last buses of the day, and the majority of buses are still operating without any issues.

"It is important that any frustrations are not taken out on the colleagues who are at work and doing their best to provide as good a service possible, as it’s not their fault."

For more information or to view latest service updates - click here

--

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054