Banga buses given deadline

Wolverhampton bus firm Banga Travel's battle for survival continued today after it was granted another stay of execution following a ruling its buses were not fit for passengers.

Owner Parkash Ram Banga's pleas to keep his licence were dismissed at the Court of Appeal in London as "utterly hopeless" by Lord Justices Ward and Keene, who gave the firm eight weeks to sort itself out before his ban kicks in.

The judges also requested Mr Banga's solicitors contacted the West Midlands Traffic Commission to see if anything could be done to speed up an application submitted by his son Raj to take over the running of the business.

Traffic bosses in November 2006 found Banga vehicles were not in a fit state to carry passengers.

Mr Banga was banned from holding a licence for two years and ordered to stop his 530, 545, 535 and 634 services through Wolverhampton, Bilston, Bradley and Codsall.

A transport tribunal last year upheld the ruling by West Midlands Traffic Commissioner David Dixon following an appeal by Mr Banga, which was stayed until today.