UNION representatives today appealed for calm as the war over timetables between two rival bus companies escalated.

TGWU branch secretary John Hornsby said: "The lads on the road are not happy with a situation of having to battle against each other.

"I have spoken to the Rossendale union representative and we are trying to take the heat out of the situation," he added.

Hostilities broke out on Monday when Rossendale Transport began running buses at the same time as Hyndburn Transport on the Accrington to Bacup route.

Hyndburn retaliated by putting on extra journeys and has now launched a counter-attack.

From Monday, July 29, it will be running a coach service to the coast, competing with Rossendale.

Notices advertising the day excursions to Lytham St Annes and Blackpool have gone up at Accrington bus station.

Its travel shop in Blackburn Road has stopped selling Rossendale Rover weekly tickets and Ellen Smith holidays, owned by Rossendale Transport.

Hyndburn managing director Andrew Gill said: "This is part of our response to their unjustified, unreasonable and unwarranted action."

Rossendale Transport said it had acted to protect its commercial interest because of the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Hyndburn bus company which is for sale.

The retaliation by Hyndburn had not come as a surprise, said Rossendale operations director Barry Drelincourt. He added: "It was one of the responses we anticipated when deciding our actions. We will keep the situation under review."

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