A WESTON-super-Mare coach operator is offering jobs to drivers and staff affected by difficulties at Coombs Travel. 

Bakers Dolphin, which is based just a few miles away from Coombs Travel, said they were shocked to hear that the company had handed back a number of school contracts after the shock announcement that the bus operator would no longer be operating school bus services. 

Max Fletcher, managing director of Bakers Dolphin said: “We were shocked to hear that Coombs Travel had handed back a number of school contracts and rumours that it has ceased trading.

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"We are trying to recruit drivers and staff at the moment so we are exploring how we can help by taking people on as we hear that some staff have been told not to come into work.

“We have many regular school contracts in the area and we are trying to get some clarity on what is happening at Coombs Travel so that we can support anyone, both staff and customers, which have been affected.

“It is always upsetting to see a coach business hit difficulty.

"Coach travel is a very competitive and highly-regulated business that is difficult for those without the broad spectrum of income that we have to operate within.”

A spokesman for Bakers Dolphin said the company is contacting Somerset County Council to offer support for the school routes that have been affected and is appealing to any staff from Coombs Travel to contact Derek Forbes on 01934 415000.

Coombs Travel has been contacted for comment by the Weekly News.