STAFF from a rival bus company have been seen checking times on Accrington bus station - sparking fears among local drivers that Hyndburn Transport could be run off the road.

They say Stagecoach representatives were checking the timings of Hyndburn Transport buses only a week after the council-owned company went up for sale.

The reports have been shrugged off by the Scottish-based bus giant.

All a spokeswoman would say was: "At the moment nothing is being done about Hyndburn Transport.

"We have no interest in it at present."

TGWU branch secretary John Hornsby said: "We don't know whether there is anything to it, but it caused a bit of panic when these people were spotted.

"People started worrying that, all at once, we could have Stagecoach riding on our routes and running us off the road."

Hyndburn Council is remaining tight-lipped about the sale of its bus operation.

As a small company struggling to buy new buses to make their services attractive, Hyndburn Transport is vulnerable to commercial competition.

Last year it reported a profit of just £3,722 on a turnover of £3.2 million.

The company's net worth was reported as £694,000, but Hyndburn Council chief executive Mike Chambers said the figure should not be seen as a price tag.

The council is still talking to the Department of Transport about the sale and drawing up a prospectus to send to prospective purchasers.

Mr Chambers said: "We don't think there will be any shortage of interest from the informal inquiries we have been making."

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