VILLAGES served by Stokesley buses could lose some or all of their services, following Arriva's closure of the town's depot in February.

Arriva says the relocation to Redcar and Stockton depots is a commercial move and routes are under review.

Increased traffic congestion in urban areas and towns such as Yarm is blamed for Arriva struggling to provide hourly services to outlying villages like Hutton Rudby, Kirklevington and Great Ayton.

Its Stokesley-Middlesbrough service does well, bypassing Great Ayton, but other Stokesley services are being looked at.

Tony Batty, Arriva business development manager, told the D&S Times: "It's too early to say what we will do with services like the Yarm, Hutton Rudby and Stokesley one. But some could become unfeasible to run from Redcar or Stockton."

Arriva has given notice that it is withdrawing from the Stokesley-Northallerton route, although it has not ruled out re-tendering. Mr Batty said running vehicles from Stokesley was no longer economical.

"Not so long ago, a Stokesley bus could travel to Middlesbrough and back within an hour," he said.

"That's no longer possible. Now, the quickest service is the number 90 directly from Stokesley to Middlesbrough, and that takes a minimum 32 minutes one-way.

"Passengers want hourly services which often means using two buses. We try to make service changes to reflect their demands but it's increasingly difficult to justify this commercially."

He denied Arriva deliberately ran down Stokesley bus station. The firm valued passengers and wanted to develop its business.

In Cleveland, dedicated bus lanes helped overcome congestion. Recent progress in Eaglescliffe came through working with Stockton Council.

Meanwhile, some Hutton Rudby passengers were due to raise their fears with the parish council last night.

Alice Barrigan said: "Arriva drivers say the firm intends to restrict the service to Hutton Rudby to an urban route between the James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough, Stockton and Yarm. Buses won't come here.

"Basically, we believe Arriva is only interested in core urban areas, not in expanding services."

She said bus drivers claimed Stokesley was the most profitable depot a few years ago.

"It's been cynically run down and drivers are getting the flak."

She regularly travelled by bus to Northallerton but did not know what the future held.

Clive Hopkinson, North Yorkshire's transport planning and development manager, is waiting for confirmation from Arriva regarding services around Stokesley.

"Once we receive details, we'll see if they effect North Yorkshire passengers. If Arriva withdraws, then we'd consider putting some routes out to tender."

The county council could not dictate timetables. Arriva was a commercial business which largely ran its own affairs. Likewise, it had the power to close Stokesley depot.

Regarding new shelters at Stokesley, he added: "There will be further discussions with the town council and the bus company."

Earlier proposals for High Street shelters met some opposition