A BRADLEY Fold bus company which runs services to schools has had a coach ordered off the road after a number of defects were found among its fleet.

Bradley Fold Garage bosses were told they could only operate five of their fleet of six coaches at a public inquiry in Leeds on Thursday (Feb 22).

The North Western Traffic Commissioner called the firm, based at Radcliffe Moor Road, to a disciplinary hearing when routine safety checks carried out by the Vehicle Inspectorate found one bus had failed its annual test for 18 reasons. A further 13 defects were discovered on other coaches in the fleet.

At the three-hour hearing Beverley Bell, regional Traffic Commissioner, said she was also concerned that a vehicle without a Certificate of Fitness had been used on school runs.

A spokeswoman for the Traffic Commissioner said a further inspection would take place at the company's depot in the next six months.

Bradley Fold Garage declined to comment on the outcome of the public inquiry.