CRISIS talks are to be held between county council transport officers and Buses of Somerset executives over persistent complaints about late and cancelled No 28 services between Minehead and Taunton.

The meeting to discuss the problems is expected to take place ‘in the very near future’.

In the meantime, a spokeswoman for the company told the Free Press: “There is a huge push on recruiting drivers, and there has been for some time.”

The talks have been prompted by continuing issues highlighted by Williton woman Linda Sparks, who uses the No 28 bus to reach her ‘key worker’ job in Minehead.

Ms Sparks told how passengers old, young, and disabled were frequently left shivering in the cold at bus stops when buses ran late or did not turn up at all.

She said: “I speak for myself and many others in the community. People are really suffering around here getting to work, to hospital appointments, and everything else.”

Ms Sparks said recently she had been late for work every day for a week because of the slow bus service.

She said: “My bosses have been fabulous with me about the situation, but for how long they will put up with it I do not know. I am worried for my future. I need my employment.”

Ms Sparks said she was prompted to speak out after meeting a young man who was due to attend a job interview but missed it and did not get the post because the bus did not turn up.

“He lost the job interview, with a young family depending on him,” said Ms Sparks. “The buses seem to turn up and please themselves when they are going to run.

“Many of us have experienced this in such very cold weather - young, old, disabled, and workers.

“This situation has gone on too long, over a year now, and people out here in the community are suffering.

“The bus drivers have excuses, they say they have their rules, they are going on strikes.

“I call that a luxury, they are very lucky to have a job, which many out here have not.

“They want to count their blessings to have employment and be grateful for what they have.”

Ms Sparks said she understood the bus company had a temporary manager in charge of the service who had pointed to a shortage of drivers.

However, she said: “It is bad management which has led to bad staffing.”

First Bus, the parent company of Buses of Somerset, was unable to provide a fuller statement for the Free Press.