A long-standing Hambleton coach company has stopped trading today.
John Smith & Sons, which has been in operation for more than 80 years, operated 14 school and one local bus service under contract to the county council, as well as running private trips.
The company was based at The Airfield at Dalton, near Thirsk.
North Yorkshire County Council said its integrated passenger transport team had made emergency alternative arrangements with other local providers who will operate the home-to-school transport services with immediate effect to ensure that pupils entitled to free transport will be able to get to and from school.
The local bus service 150 previously operated by John Smith and Son Ltd on Thursdays and Saturdays between Thirsk and Ripon will not operate on January 19.
The council said it was reviewing its options for this service in future and is hopeful that some level of service can be reinstated.
Details will be posted on the council website when the authority has concluded its review.
North Yorkshire County Council assistant director Ian Fielding said: “Our team has worked hard to make sure the school bus services continue to operate and we will be working closely with schools as we seek to make permanent alternative arrangements.’’
It is understood the authority was only notified the company had stopped trading this lunchtime.
A post on Thirsk School and Sixth Form’s Facebook page said the services would be running as normal with alternative providers stepping in.
Nobody was answering at the bus coaches offices when Hambleton Today called this afternoon.
Details of the temporary arrangements can be found on the county council’s website at www.northyorks.gov.uk
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