400 jobs at risk over closure of GHA Coaches, Ruabon

A Wrexham-based coach operator which employs nearly 400 people has ceased trading, Denbighshire council has said.

GHA Coaches operates out of Ruabon and runs 230 vehicles from six depots in north Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire.

The council said it was told the firm would cease trading on Wednesday night.

It warned some services provided by GHA would not be covered immediately and it could take a few days to arrange replacements.

GHA operates services in Wrexham, Flintshire, Conwy, Denbighshire and Gwynedd council areas.

Priority will be given to school pupils who are eligible for free school transport.

None of the public bus services previously operated by GHA Coaches are expected to operate in Denbighshire or Flintshire on Thursday.

'Risk to jobs'

The Welsh Government-funded longer distance Traws Cymru route between Barmouth, Dolgellau, Bala, Corwen and Wrexham is also run by GHA.

Over the border, it operates in Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, Warrington and into Greater Manchester council areas.

Shropshire council, which said GHA had gone into administration, confirmed all school and public transport routes operated by the firm will not operate on Thursday.

GHA said on its website it is one of the largest independently owned bus and coach operators in the UK.

It has not commented on the closure.

A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the current position at GHA Coaches and the risk to jobs at the company.

"We are working closely with local authorities to minimise any adverse effect to key bus services in the area."

It is the second large Welsh bus company to close after Pembrokeshire firm Silcox collapsed in June.