Transport bosses promise Speedwell routes will continue. Passengers have been promised that services will continue after the bus company ceased trading. Hyde-based Speedwell ran bus routes in Oldham, Hyde, and Ashton-under- Lyne  as well as Glossop.

Bosses at Transport for Greater Manchester have now found other bus firms to take over the affected routes. They include the 341 Hyde, Mottram and Glossop service and the 343 Oldham, Mossley and Hyde service. Michael Renshaw, TfGM’s bus and rail director, said: “Our main priority in this instance is to ensure that all affected bus services continue to operate as normal for passengers, and that no further disruption is caused. “As such, I can assure passengers that we have acted swiftly in finding replacement operators to run these services on a temporary basis within a short space of time, and we will now take steps to ensure that appropriate longer-term contracts are awarded to replace Speedwell.” Click here for more transport stories Speedwell was established in 2002, but its owners had been operating services in Glossop and Tameside for about 20 years.

It is still unclear why Speedwell  ceased operating. No one from the firm was available for comment.

Christopher Bowles, chairman of Greater Manchester Bus Operators Association, said: “It is always sad when a local business providing a service to the public finds that they can no longer continue. “However, GMBOA is pleased that other bus operators have been able to support Speedwell customers by continuing to provide services with minimal disruption.”