COUNCIL bosses today moved to reassure workers at Blackburn Transport that the company wasn't up for sale -- yet.

Faced by a barrage of questions at last night's meeting of the Blackburn with Darwen regeneration overview and scrutiny committee, regeneration boss Andy Kay confirmed that the future of Blackburn Transport would come under review in the coming months.

All the council's main assets are to be reviewed to see if they are providing 'best value' and selling them off is an option.

Coun Kay said: "The company is not up for sale but, along with all the council's main assets and investments, it will be reviewed as part of the budget strategy in the next couple of months.

"I can't make it any clearer than that."

Coun Alan Cottam, opposition spokesman for regeneration, said: "I welcome these reviews." But Coun Karimeh Foster, for the Lib Dems, said: "I do not think it should be sold."

Blackburn Transport became a limited company following deregulation in 1986.

However, its sole shareholder is Blackburn with Darwen Council and is one of just 17 bus companies nationwide to still be owned by the local authority it used to be a department of.