BUS users on the Birch Hall Estate in Darwen have been assured that "fierce" rivalry between two bus companies will not end with cuts in services.

White Lady coaches and Darwen Coach Services operate the W2 and D2 services respectively from the estate throughout the day.

The two companies have a long record of strong competition in the area, which on one occasion led to them being called before the traffic commissioner.

Residents in the area fear that services may be amended or withdrawn if one of the operators gained the upper hand in the bus war.

They sent a 400 name petition to the Blackburn with Darwen Council expressing their fears, and transport bosses moved swiftly to ask the two operators what the situation is.

Mary Melia, 81, of Birch Hall Avenue, who is organising the protest said: "We are all fed up with this situation. The buses are speeding around the estate trying to get to the stops first. There is going to be a serious accident if nothing is done about the problem.

"The competition needs to be made more equal so that both companies run the same amount of services. We don't want to lose the drivers we are used to because they are considerate and obliging, especially to the pensioners who rely on them."

Both companies sent assurances to the council that they have no plans to withdraw any of their services.

A report which will be presented to members of Blackburn with Darwen Council's highways and transport committee said: "There is an extreme degree of competition between Darwen Coach Services and White Lady coaches.

"This pre-dates the council's unitary status and was a matter the county surveyor held under review for some time.

"Both companies have engendered fierce loyalties in their customers and the level of competitiveness between the two companies has led on one occasion to them being called before the traffic commissioner.

"The director of technical services has contacted both operators and ascertained that neither has plans to amend the services to Birch Hall Estate, to which the petition refers, in any way."

Members of the council's highways and transport committee will meet to discuss the issue at a town hall meeting on Thursday, August 12.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.