Angry bus drivers plan to march through Crawley tomorrow in protest at threatened job losses and lower wage offers.

There will be no buses in the town from 11am to 2pm during the demonstration, which starts at the bus station in Station Way.

More than 80 drivers will march to the town hall, where they will discuss their problems with council leader Chris Redmayne.

The drivers received official notice at the weekend after Arriva, the town's current bus operator, decided to pull out on March 31.

The town's services are being taken over by Metrobus, part of the national Go-Ahead group, which also runs the Gatwick Direct bus service.

Arriva bus driver and union representative Ray Millard said: "We are protesting about the way we have been treated.

"We have only just received our official notice and no one knows yet if they are being made redundant or if they are being kept on by Metrobus.

"Metrobus is offering £1.50p an hour less than we are getting at the moment, which will make £60 to £80 difference to our wages."

He said they were angry that Arriva had not put drivers in touch with the Job Centre or anyone who could advise them on benefits to which they might be entitled.

They were marching to the town hall because they had received no assistance from the council.

But a council spokeswoman said they did not know why the drivers were demonstrating outside the town hall. The borough council had no power to subsidise buses.

Metrobus spokesman Andrew Wickham said he did not know yet how many jobs would be on offer.