USERS of public transport are invited to give their views on bus services at a series of surgeries staged across town and city centres in the North-East.

One of the region's biggest bus operators, Go North-East, hopes to lure people back on to public transport by discovering what they like and dislike about services which are now running.

Company representatives plan to collate the views of visitors to the surgeries, staged on board Go Northern buses parked in central areas, to form its future planning.

The idea is backed by Dr Caroline Cahm, who chairs the National Federation of Bus Users.

Yvonne Dixon, Go North East marketing director, said the company is eager to gain as much customer feedback as possible from the surgeries.

"We are committed to providing the best bus service possible for local communities and can only do this by obtaining and acting upon customer demand and feedback."

The first surgery was staged in Durham yesterday when a Go Ahead single decker was parked on one of the main thoroughfares in the city, Framwelgate Bridge.

Further surgeries will be held on a monthly basis in other towns and cities across the region.