A major bus operator has announced it will 'step in and cover' a number of Arriva's services - following its announcement to close local depots and cancel routes.

D&G Bus has announced it will be stepping in to run additional services in Crewe and wider across Cheshire from Sunday 23 April.

It has registered replacement services to cover the 31 Northwich to Winsford to Crewe, 37 Northwich to Winsford to Sandbach to Crewe and 84 Crewe to Nantwich/Chester.

D&G has registered a replacement service to cover the 84 Crewe to Nantwich/Chester (Ryan Parker).

D&G says it already provides a service on the 38 Crewe to Macclesfield route - with timetables released shortly.

Commercial Director at D&G Bus, David Brookes, told Nub News: "Local people will be worried about the future of bus travel in the area following this announcement.

"We'd like to reassure them that we intend to step in and cover as much of the Arriva network as we can.

"We've registered replacement services to cover the 31, 37 and 84, and we already provide a service on the 38.

"Timetables will be available on our website over the next day or two.

D&G says it intends to step in and cover as much of the Arriva network as it can (Ryan Parker).

"There are some services we haven't registered but we will be speaking to local council officers to see what else we can do to help.

"We can't guarantee we can cover all the Arriva routes but we'll make every effort to keep local buses moving in the area."

Arriva's move will see the shutting of its Cheshire depots - no longer operating any bus services in the Crewe, Winsford, Northwich, and Macclesfield areas.

It would mean its services to parts of Cheshire East, including Crewe, Sandbach and Macclesfield would be scrapped.

D&G has quickly stepped in to cover some of these lost routes but a number of services in and around Crewe are not yet secured.

D&G says it is speaking to local council officers to see what else it can do to help (Ryan Parker).

Mr Brookes added, "We're recruiting qualified bus drivers and engineers to help us keep these vital services running.

"D&G are an independent company that provides a personal family approach to the people that work for us.

"We're proud to be helping to keep local services running, and we look forward to welcoming new colleagues and customers on board."

If you would like to join D&G Bus or would like more details please contact them via phone on 01270 252970 or 01782 332337.

You can email them at [email protected], or come and meet the company at one of its recruitment events - details of which will be released later this week.

List of Arriva bus routes that would still no longer operate:

• 6 Leighton Hospital - Shavington 
• 3 Macclesfield - Weston
• 7 Winsford Local Circular
• 1 Northwich Circular via Rudheath and Weaverham
• 4 Barnton to Leftwich and Kingsmead via Northwich
• 4 Macclesfield - Upton Priory
• 5 & 6 Macclesfield - Broken Cross
• 9 Macclesfield - Moss Rose
• 10 Macclesfield - Bollington