The three opposition groups on Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council have joined forces to oppose cuts to the Link bus service in the area.

The council’s Labour leadership is understood to be planning to get rid of or seriously reduce the service.

A working group has been set up to discuss the future of the service, but the opposition parties are not prepared to even discuss cuts to the service.

The low-floor buses operate hourly through more than 20 towns and villages on six evenings a week, from Monday to Saturday.

The vehicles run through Redcar, Marske, Saltburn, Brotton, Carlin How, Loftus, Liverton Mines, North Skelton, New Skelton, Skelton, Skelton Green, Boosbeck, Lingdale, Margrove Park, Charltons, Slapewath, Guisborough, including an extension into Hutton Village, Dunsdale, Yearby and Kirkleatham Village.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader Josh Mason said:

“These buses are a vital lifeline for residents, as they run at times when commercial bus services won’t. We will fight hard to protect services for vulnerable and rural residents.”

Conservative Group Leader Valerie Halton added:

“It is right that the opposition parties work together to campaign to protect essential services.”

Independent Group Leader Mary Lanigan said:

“The East Cleveland area is particularly reliant on this service, as it consists of rural and semi-rural communities. These bus services are crucial to the economic well-being of our area.”