HYNDBURN Council is sending out promotion packages to companies interested in buying their struggling bus company.

The government has given council chief executive Mike Chambers the go-ahead to target companies who might be interested in buying Hyndburn Transport.

Mr Chambers said: "We have chosen four companies who have shown interest and will be sending them an information memorandum containing all the necessary details.

"As yet, we are not prepared to reveal the names of those companies until they show further interest in Hyndburn Transport."

He added: "If at the end of this process the basis of sale is unsatisfactory, we will think again.

"We want to maintain as many jobs as possible and make sure services don't lapse in the hands of the company's next owners."

But Tory party leader Councillor Peter Britcliffe said: "Things should not have gone this far.

"The ruling Labour group should have invested more time and effort into managing Hyndburn Transport.

"The money they spent on consultants should have been spent on convincing other local companies to form a partnership with them."

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