Bus bosses have agreed to meet passengers in Coldean after a mother-of-two started a petition calling for a more reliable service.

Ashley Desmond, 33, of Ingham Drive, Brighton has asked for the 24 route from Hollingbury to Churchill Square to become more dependable and invited Brighton and Hove Bus Company bosses Martin Harris and Mike Best to visit Coldean.

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She said: “Sometimes it takes me two hours to do the school run to Coombe Road Primary because I have to allow so much extra time in case the buses are late.

“That’s for a journey that only takes eight minutes once I’m on the bus.

“Reliable information about waiting times would really help. You can’t rely on the app or the timetable. Things seemed to get better before Christmas but now they’re worse again.

“The bus company has promised better services, but I want to be sure that they are really committed. It would be great to see them here talking to residents and shop owners, who know all about the problems we’ve been having.”

Her petition has so far received over 240 signatures.

The 24 bus is scheduled to run twice hourly in the mornings and evenings and three times hourly during the day. Changes to the timetable are planned.

Martin Harris, the managing director of Brighton and Hove Bus Company, said: “I am happy to confirm that we would of course be very pleased to attend a meeting to explain our current service levels and how the improvements to the timetable we are making in April will benefit residents in Coldean.”

“Equally we would be very happy to listen to feedback and suggestions from residents.”

Labour’s local campaign team has now joined the chorus asking for improvements to the service.

Councillor Jeane Lepper said: “I have raised this issue before with the bus company and have repeatedly asked the council for more bus shelters and real time electronic displays in Coldean.

“I hope the reliability of the service does improve with the timetable changes in April.

“It’s no fun waiting in the cold and rain at a bus stop with no shelter for a bus you don’t know is going to arrive.”

The provisional date of the bus company visit to meet residents is March 25 but the time and venue is yet to be confirmed.