A BUS company is rescheduling its services between Durham and Brandon because of roadworks.

Arriva buses have suffered delays because of a £1.3m scheme to repair a worn-out stretch of the A690, between Langley Moor and Meadowfield.

Buses running through Meadowfield will face a lengthy diversion through the Littleburn Industrial Estate.

Arriva is introducing new timetables for buses linking Durham and Brandon between 9am and 5.30pm, from Sunday.

The firm's North-East commercial director, Steve Burd, said the move was designed to take into account the extra journey times caused by the diversion.

Services 46 and X46, between Crook, Durham and Newcastle, will not run between Durham and Crook from the morning peak to 6pm.

The X46 will run at normal times between Durham and Newcastle only.

The 49 and 49A, running between Brandon, Durham and Chester-le-Street, will follow the usual route between Brandon and Durham, but at new times, and with longer journey times.

Service 50, between Durham and the Dere Park Estate, will not run between the morning peak and 6pm.

The new 50A service will run half-hourly, between 9am and 5.30pm, from Crook to Durham, via Willington and the Dere Park Estate. It replaces services 49 and 50.

Timetable leaflets giving full details of the changes will be available from the Arriva travel centre at Durham's bus station, on 0191-384 3323.

The firm will post copies of the altered timetables from the travel centre.

Passengers can also get information from Traveline on (0870) 6082608, between 7am and 8pm daily.

The roadworks started earlier this month and are likely to take another ten weeks.