NEW wheelchair-friendly buses fitted with security cameras will be introduced in Darlington next month as part of a shake-up of public transport in the town.

Low-floor buses, four of them owned by Darlington Borough Council, will be used on new services 10/11 and 19, making access easier for disabled people and people with pushchairs.

People with mobility problems will also be able to request, by prior arrangement, that the 10/11 service, covering Firthmoor, Morton Park, Red Hall, Albert Hill and Eastbourne sports complex, picks them up closer to home if they have trouble getting to a bus stop.

The buses for that service will be smaller than those on regular routes to enable them to negotiate minor roads.

The 19 service will cover Whinfield, Haughton, Red Hall, Morton Park, The Broadway, the town centre, Memorial Hospital, the Denes, Cockerton and Faverdale.

The news was welcomed by Gordon Pybus, chairman of Darlington Association on Disability.

He said: "The buses are nice. They are wheelchair-accessible and will be very good for people as it will be easier to get on and off.

"I find the bus ideal as a wheelchair user. But I now want to see this rolled out for all services."

The new buses are part of the authority's £1m Urban Bus Challenge programme.

They will be operated by local company Green Bus and will each be fitted with up to four closed-circuit television cameras.

Coun Nick Wallis, the council's cabinet member for transport, said: "The vision and plans set out as part of our Urban Bus Challenge are now very close to becoming a reality. By extending existing services and introducing the new vehicles, more and more people will have access to work, shopping and leisure centres."

From November 2, Stagecoach will alter some of its services.

The 16A covering Faverdale and High Grange will be withdrawn, as will the 17 serving the Memorial Hospital and the Broadway estate.

There will be revised timetables for the 20, 24/24A, 25 and 26 and Stagecoach will also be running the 22 to Minors Crescent, the 23 to Skerne Park, the 30/31 to Mowden and most early morning and evening journeys covering Neasham, Hurworth, Morton Park and Middleton St George.

For details about the changes please telephone Traveline on 0870 608 2608.