No buses will run for several hours in the centre of Brighton and Hove on Saturday.

All routes will terminate away from the centre between 10am and 2.30pm during the Pride parade.

Buses from the west will stop at Palmeira Square and Seven Dials; from the north at Preston Drove, Fiveways and Lewes Road bus garage; and from the east at Rock Gardens and Eastern Road/Park Street.

No buses will serve Western Road, Churchill Square, London Road, St James's Street, Brighton station, the Palace Pier or any other destinations in the centre during that time.

Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company aims to keep a normal service running in the rest of the conurbation, including Shoreham, Portslade and Hove and all suburbs.

Longer distance buses to Lewes and Eastbourne will also run normally.

Managing director Roger French said: "The higher profile route of the Pride parade this year, via West Street, the Clock Tower and North Street, will cause major traffic delays throughout the city centre for some hours.

"Our contingency plans will enable us to keep buses moving in the outer areas and return services to normal once the worst of the traffic eases.

"There was a danger our entire fleet of 200 buses on the road would become stuck in the gridlocked traffic for some hours without these plans."

Widespread publicity is being distributed to advise people of the withdrawal of city centre buses.

Large posters are being displayed on every bus, notices will be posted on all affected bus stops and the real-time digital information displays at bus stops will be updated with the latest developments.

Mr French said: "We strongly advise people wanting access to the city centre on Saturday to travel before 10am or after 2.30pm."

Bus company staff will be on hand to provide information to passengers while full details of the modified timetables are available by calling 01273 886200 or visiting www.buses.co.uk

Wednesday August 04, 2004