BUS drivers at Stagecoach Ribble are seeking early talks with the company's prospective new owners in a bid to secure their futures.

Harrogate-based Blazefield Holdings is close to finalising a deal to buy Stagecoach Ribble's depots in Blackburn, Burnley, Clitheroe and Bolton.

Members of the Transport and General Workers Union have met to discuss the position and Burnley branch secretary Peter Brindle said his members were "cautiously optimistic."

"There was an excellent turnout," he said. "We would like to know what Blazefield is planning to do with bus services in East Lancashire and we are hoping to arrange a meeting with their management in the near future.

"There has been no mention of job losses and we would hope that the new owners will keep things going as they are."

Stagecoach Ribble's operations director Chris Bowles said earlier this week that the proposed sale should not have any job implications for the 600 people who work out of the four depots. He said it was likely that the workers would transfer to the new operation.

The company has has a troubled time with its workforce. Drivers staged 15 one-day strikes last year in a bitter pay dispute with Stagecoach Ribble when they demanded parity with fellow workers in Manchester.

Blazefield Holdings is one of the country's leading privately-owned bus groups, with six separate bus companies, three in Yorkshire and three in the South of England.