BUS firm Stagecoach is warning services are being disrupted in Dursley due to a shortage of drivers, caused by Brexit and the pandemic.

The travel operator issued an apology this morning, saying that some services in Dursley, Stroud, Stonehouse, Cheltenham and Gloucester would see disruption as the firm was “experiencing staff shortages”.

Rachel Geliamassi, managing director at Stagecoach West, said: “Like many businesses and industries across the UK, we are currently experiencing staff shortages due to the effects of the pandemic and Brexit. Unfortunately, this means some service levels may be affected.

"We are working hard to resolve this as quickly as possible.

"In the meantime, we’re working to ensure our core rural and interurban services are prioritised for commuters and essential travellers across our region.

“We will be keeping customers updated with live service information on our Twitter page and on the Stagecoach Bus App to help them plan their journeys.”

Wendy Thomas, chair of the Cam and Dursley Transport Group said the cancellations were 'really disappointing', with many passengers late for work and others left stranded at bus stops.

She said: "It is really disappointing to see so many services cancelled over the first few days of the new timetables.

"Yesterday 11 services on the 65 between Stroud, Dursley and Gloucester were cancelled, which is just unacceptable.

"We’ve heard of many people being stranded at bus stops, being one to two hours late for work, having to walk an hour to get home, and other issues.

"I take on board Stagecoach’s point of a ‘national driver shortage’ but how and why has that happened now?

"We're not aware of comparable service disruptions last week."

Today there were 14 cancellations on the 63, 64, 65 and 66 services.