SOME bus services in Middlewich have been cancelled this morning after the operator entered administration, making 320 staff redundant.

GHA Coaches, based in Wrexham but with a depot in Winsford, announced on Wednesday evening that it could no longer continue operating its services.

The 42 bus between Crewe and Congleton, serving Middlewich and Holmes Chapel, is one of those services affected by the decision.

A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council said: "It has come to our attention that GHA Coaches are experiencing difficulty in providing their normal services in Cheshire East as from the morning of Thursday July 14.

"This could have a significant impact on schools and other commercial and social transport operations normally provided by GHA Coaches.

"Cheshire East Council is currently working to provide alternative arrangements and we are giving urgent priority to school pupils, the elderly and other residents who routinely rely on the services provided by this particular company.

"We wish to assure our residents and schools that we are doing all we can, as a local authority, to mitigate the impact of the sudden loss of services by providing alternative transport where possible. Unfortunately we may not be able to cover all services affected.

"We would ask our residents to bear with us during this difficult period."

Grants Thornton UK LLP confirmed on Thursday morning that they had been appointed administrators of GHA Coaches, which employed 320 staff and operated 230 vehicles.

The business recently received a winding-up petition from HMRC in respect of unpaid taxes.  The directors attempted to secure an emergency funding package but were unsuccessful.

Jason Bell of Grants Thornton said: “GHA Coaches is no longer operating and regrettably the staff have been made redundant today.

“We will explore all options in terms of bringing any part of the business back to life. However, our immediate responsibility is to look after the interests of the creditors.

“We are also liaising with the local authorities involved on contingency arrangements for the routes affected in North Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire.”