A LARGE number of bus services in Crewe and Nantwich have been cancelled this morning after the operator entered administration.

GHA Coaches, based in Wrexham, announced on Wednesday evening that it could no longer continue operating its services.

Fourteen bus services in Crewe and Nantwich have been directly affected as a result of the closure.

A spokesman for Cheshire East Council said: "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.

"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."

GHA Coaches is one of the largest independently owned bus and coach operators in the UK.

It operates 230 vehicles from six depots, including depots in Cheshire, and employs between 300 and 400 people.

A spokesman for GHA Coaches said: "It is with regret that GHA Coaches Ltd has ceased trading on Wednesday, July 13, 2016, and are no longer operating bus or coach services with immediate effect.

"We would like to thank our customers for their support over the years.

"For details of replacement bus services please call Traveline 0300 200 22 33."

Around 11.25pm, Cheshire East Council said most bus services in Cheshire East are running 'very smoothly'.

A council spokesman said it was able at very short notice to find alternative travel arrangements for all buses running to Springfield School in Crewe.

The full list of closures are as follows:

78: Nantwich – Rode Heath via Leighton Hospital, Sandbach, Alsager

2: Whitchurch – Nantwich via Wrenbury

73: Whitchurch – Nantwich via Audlem

51: Nantwich – Delamere Road via Cronkinson Oak

52: Nantwich – Sainsbury’s via Manor Road

52A: Nantwich – Reaseheathe College via Manor Road

44: Crewe - Nantwich via Shavington

44M: Wistaston - Nantwich – Malbank School via Shavington

42: Crewe - Congleton via Leighton Hospital, Middlewich, Holmes Chapel

39: Crewe - Nantwich via Shavington, Walgherton

38: Crewe - Macclesfield via Sandbach, Congleton

6E (Evening Only): Leighton Hospital - Shavington via Crewe