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The service First Bus has provided in recent weeks is "unacceptable", one of the top politicians in the South West said.

Managing director James Freeman is being hauled for a summit meeting with mayor Tim Bowles, who leads the West of England Combined Authority (Weca).

They will discuss cancelled services and delays facing bus commuters across the region.

Bath bus users have faced huge queues and overcrowded services this autumn. University students said it was bad value for money and others described the situation as "terrible".

First Bus has issued public apologies. Head of operations Chris Hanson offered his “unreserved apologies” and reassured customers the company is doing “everything possible” to deal with “unprecedented volumes of passengers”.

The meeting between Mr Bowles and Mr Freeman will take place in the next two weeks.

Weca said it follows correspondence from constituents across the West of England highlighting severe delays, cancellations and overcrowded services.

"The shortage of drivers and the on-going recruitment issues faced by First will be raised by the mayor, urging the company to review recruitment practices to ensure vacancies are filled quickly and the training of new drivers is completed promptly to avoid further disruption," the authority said.

(Image: Artur Lesniak/ Reach plc)

"The on-going issues coupled with current levels of congestion provide challenges to the existing bus services and highlights the need to continue to work together as a region on the West of England bus strategy."

Mr Bowles said: “Thousands of people across the West of England rely on First Bus to get around the region.

"The recent level of disruption is unacceptable and I will raise my concerns directly with First.

"Reliable transport is essential to keep the region growing and I will press First to address these challenges as quickly as possible.”

(Image: Artur Lesniak/ Reach plc)

Weca is made up of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire Councils.

It came into force last year and Mr Bowles (Conservatives) became its first leader when he was elected in May 2017.

It has a budget of £1 billion to spend over 30 years on regional issues including transport, housing and skills.

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