GHA Coaches workers told of company's closure by TEXT

GHA Coaches staff were told the company was ceasing trading in a text message that also said: "Plz attend depot meeting 10am tomoz".

When drivers turned up at the company they were told the firm had been placed in administration.

GHA Coaches operated 11 routes for Shropshire Council, made up of six public transport and five school contracts.

It made the shock announcement that it would cease trading only days after apologising for issues with its service.

Shropshire Council today said it had managed to secure replacement buses for a number of routes, although not for Severndale School, which caters for children with special needs.

The authority said it hopes to have a replacement service in place by Monday, and was looking to use some of its own mini buses for today's school run.

Drivers for the company said they were unhappy that the news the company had ceased trading had been broken to them by text.

Stephen Bryce, general manager at GHA, said there was a sombre mood as the firm, which has been running for more than 20 years, called in the administrators.

He said: "It's a really sad day."

The decision to place the company in administration followed a winding up petition from HMRC for unpaid taxes.

The firm, which employs 320 workers and operated 230 vehicles from five depots in Shropshire, North Wales and Chester, attempted to secure an emergency funding package but was unsuccessful. It stopped trading on Wednesday night.

Jason Bell and Christopher Petts of Grant Thornton UK LLP were appointed as administrators of GHA Coaches yesterday.

They met with staff at the depot at Ruabon near Wrexham, to tell them they were being made redundant.

Mr Bell said: "GHA Coaches is no longer operating and regrettably the staff have been made redundant. 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."

GHA Coaches was a family business run by principal directors Gareth and Arwyn Lloyd Davies.

The business recently received a winding-up petition from HMRC in respect of unpaid taxes.

After the emergency funding package failed, they then took steps to place the company in administration.

Mr Bell added: "We are also liaising with the local authorities involved on contingency arrangements for the routes affected in North Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire."

Shropshire Council leader Malcolm Pate praised the efforts of council staff and the bus companies which have stepped in to assist.

He said the council only knew the company was in trouble when it informed the authority it was stopping trading.