SEVERAL services previously run by a Merseyside bus company have been SAVED – despite the firm closing suddenly at the end of last week.

Avon’s passengers and staff were shocked after it was revealed on Friday the Wirral firm had ceased trading with immediate effect, with redundancies hitting staff and bus users left stranded.

Panic and confusion then followed over the weekend as customers of the company based at the Birkenhead depot asked on social media how they would get to work, school and medical appointments.

The services considered to be the most important across the borough are the 10A, 17A, 22, 88 and 145, and on Monday, transport body Merseytravel was asked which routes had been saved.

A spokesman said Arriva North West was currently operating the 10/10A that operates around New Brighton, Liscard and Arrowe Park, and the West Kirby to Birkenhead-serving 83A, which it has been doing on a 'limited' basis since Friday.

The firm had announced on Friday it was also taking on the Avon 122, serving Fazakerley to Great Crosby, but has since stopped – because the whole of the route is actually covered by Arriva’s existing 63 service.

On Twitter, Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire said that it had taken over the 22 service (including the X22), which runs from Chester to Moreton, from Monday.

The firm added that it would offer 'extra capacity' on its 38 service from West Kirby to Bromborough or Mill Park, to help cater for anticipated additional demand.

According to Merseytravel, Birkenhead company Al’s Coaches has also stepped in to operate three school journeys with effect from Tuesday.

The body was asked which specific routes they will be.

Merseytravel has asked customers to check its website and social media for updates as it continues to work with transport partners to see which services can be provided.

Avon, which has been operating for 35 years and is known for its cream and blue buses, says it closed after being hit by the introduction of a Merseytravel youth ticket, as well as by rising fuel and insurance costs.

In a letter to staff on Friday, Avon managing director George Lewis said the company had been 'losing significant amounts of money' for some months and could no longer keep going.

The closure came after Avon was last year criticised by commuters for cancelling many services over several days because of driver shortages.

It also cut services earlier this year.

A further statement made by Avon to the Globe on Friday said: “It has been the case for some time, that the cost of running services has been far in excess of the revenues that we receive and whilst every effort has been made to cut costs and improve ticket sales it has become obvious that the situation is unsustainable.”