BUS bosses have rung the bell on Howe Bridge depot.

On Tuesday Greater Manchester Buses North management confirmed the worst fears of the depot's 245 employees.

They were told their last run will be on Saturday, February 7.

"Drivers will be transferred to other depots, the majority moving to Bolton and Wigan," said a GM Buses North spokesman.

Of the 245 staff, 170 are drivers.

Engineering and support staff are being offered redeployment within the company, and management says it hopes compulsory redundancies can be avoided.

Transport and General Workers Union convenor Mick Cavanagh said: "Staff at Atherton have been aware for some time the depot has been under review.

"We will have to take stock of the situation and then decide which course to take. We must protect jobs and the services as a priority.

"Atherton is the last of the old Lancashire United Transport depots and that makes this a very sad occasion."

Managing director Dr Mike Mitchell said: "Services in the Atherton area will not be affected by the decision.

"The services will be transferred to GM depots in Wigan, Bolton and Queens Road."

He said the decision followed an 18-month operations review and the company planned to bolster services by scrapping its Wigan depot and replacing it with a new one on the same site.

Howe Bridge depot is home to 90 of Greater Manchester Buses' 850 strong fleet. It is now up for sale.

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