BLACKBURN'S council-owned bus company has confirmed it is to seek damages from a rival operator.

Blackburn Borough Transport Limited was told earlier this month it was entitled to compensation after the company used a similar name and "passed off" services as its own.

Bosses at the company today said they were waiting for a date to be set for a High Court showdown with rival owners David and Suzanne Bailey.

At an earlier hearing, Blackburn Borough Transport Limited claimed the Baileys' companies, CatchMeBus.com, Buzy Buz Ltd and Blackburn Transport Ltd, damaged its trade and unfairly poached customers.

Blackburn Borough Transport Limited reported losses of almost £500,000 in January.

Deputy High Court Judge John Martin QC agreed that Mr and Mrs Bailey, and their companies, had "no real prospect" of arguing they had not used the reputation of Blackburn Borough Transport Limited to their advantage.

He also ruled they had misrepresented the situation to the public.

Michael Morton, Blackburn Borough Transport Limited's managing director, today confirmed the company's intention to seek damages.

Finance director Ted Buckley said: "We are waiting for the High Court to fix a time and date. We are in dialogue with our legal team, but nothing has happened yet."

According to Mr Buckley, a date could be set as early as next month. The company refused to reveal the extent of its claim.

Suzanne Bailey was stripped of her operating licences earlier this month after the Traffic Commissioner for the North West told her she had left passengers "high and dry".