THE owner of an East Cleveland bus firm has hit back at criticisms about the state of its vehicles.

Abbey Coaches boss, Mr Fred Wren, denied his firm operated buses bearing a Northumbria logo - one of the complaints - and took issue with the vehicles being called scruffy.

"We did have one bus bearing that name," he said. "But the vehicle has been refurbished. People should get their facts right," he said.

Criticisms were raised at a recent meeting of Guisborough council after Mr David Bishop, of West End, wrote to the council complaining about what he described as: "the dreadful external appearance of buses run by Abbey Coaches and Northumbria."

He said the vehicles gave a terrible impression to visitors and were dispiriting to residents.

"At a time when we are embarking on a major uplift to the town, these firms should improve the appearance of their vehicles," he said.

Coun Anne Franklin said the problem was not new, and Coun Keith Pudney said: "We are seeing escapees from the crusher. The buses still bear the names of companies such as Northumbria and those logos should be painted out. "Sadly, Abbey Coaches is not under our control."

The issue was referred to Redcar and Cleveland council leader, Coun David Walsh, who pointed out there were no local buses operated by Northumbria Motor Services.

"Some old vehicles from that firm were bought by Abbey Coaches and pressed straight back into service in their original livery," he said.

Coun Walsh added: "I agree with Mr Bishop. But we have no powers except to exhort the firm to smarten up. The vehicles do look scruffy and Mr Bishop has a point."

He said he would be writing to the firm pointing out the complaints.

Mr Wren, however, said all his vehicles bore the Abbey Coaches logo in white or blue and white livery. "I don't agree our vehicles look scruffy, but everyone has a right to their opinion," he said.

He said the firm sent someone to do a survey in Guisborough and claimed that 99pc of passengers were happy with the service.

"We have done some alternations which were asked for by the public. We went to the trouble of doing this. We are not in a bad situation in East Cleveland," he said.

"We got the views of students and pensioners who are the backbone of our service, and we responded to remarks which were made and amended some timetables. If people are unhappy about any aspect of our service, I wish they would come to me with their comments."