SCORES of commuters were left shivering at bus stops this morning after a mass walk-out by Stagecoach Ribble drivers.

The industrial action came after a ballot by union members rejected a revised pay offer made by the bus company's management.

But this morning annoyed Bolton bus users, left stranded at stops in freezing weather, hit out at company bosses, claiming they had failed to notify people properly.

Stories of the strike appeared in the BEN on Saturday and local radio and television stations have carried articles.

It is the second time in a month that commuters have faced rush hour bus chaos because of a Stagecoach Ribble strike.

Linda Webster, who was waiting for a bus at a Blackburn Road stop, said posters warning of the strike should have appeared on the company's buses.

She added: "I'm probably going to be late for work now. I've been letting other buses go past because I didn't know anything about it. "Buses from other companies have stopped here but we didn't get on. Those drivers should have told us what had happened and we would have used their services."

Union bosses at the company's Folds Road depot claimed the strike had been supported well by their members. Eighteen pickets were gathered at the depot's three entrances.

TGWU branch secretary Roy Husband claimed up to 150 drivers had walked out and he warned further strike action could bring extra doses of disruption to services.

He added: "Further industrial action will be taken if we do not get round the table with management soon.

"We're very sorry that it may have caused disruption for people but it's all we can do. We have to hit at management in any way we can and the best way is to hit their revenue."

Virtually every Bolton Stagecoach service was off the road today, apart from the 125 and school services.

Ironically the strike action comes as Bolton's rural residents learned they are to enjoy a boost to their bus services.

A government cash grant to the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority will provide better rural bus services from this week.

The new and improved 273 and 616 services will operate between Bolton and Rawtenstall and Westhoughton and Shevington Vale.

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