A BUS firm has gone into administration leaving school children and commuters stranded this morning, Thursday.

GHA Coaches, based in Wrexham but with a depot in Winsford, announced it could not operate its services, that run throughout Knutsford and Wilmslow, on Wednesday evening.

The routes affected include the Connect 88 services between Wilmslow and Knutsford, Mobberley and Altrincham and the 200 service between Wilmslow and the Airport viewing park, via Styal.

Also affected is the 289 service between Northwich and Altrincham that serves Knutsford, High Legh and Little Bollington and the 27, 27A and 27B service between Knutsford and Macclesfield that also serves Chelford.

Cheshire East Council said it was currently working to provide 'alternative arrangements for residents who rely on the services'.

"It has come to our attention that GHA Coaches are experiencing difficulty in providing their normal services in Cheshire East as from the morning of Thursday July 14," a spokesman said.

"This could have a significant impact on schools and other commercial and social transport operations normally provided by GHA Coaches.  

"Cheshire East Council is currently working to provide alternative arrangements and we are giving urgent priority to school pupils, the elderly and other residents who routinely rely on the services provided by this particular company.

"We wish to assure our residents and schools that we are doing all we can, as a local authority, to mitigate the impact of the sudden loss of services by providing alternative transport where possible. Unfortunately we may not be able to cover all services affected.

"We would ask our residents to bear with us during this difficult period."