A Brighton bus company is looking to London for drivers because it cannot recruit enough people locally.

Brighton and Hove Bus Company is expanding services and needs to employ 30 extra drivers by the end of the summer. It is now having to advertise the job vacancies in London because of a chronic shortage of local applicants.

This is despite an unemployment rate of six per cent in Brighton and Hove, two per cent above the national average. Managing director Roger French stressed the company was still a major local employer and took on two or three people from the area every week.

He said: "We are not leaving Brighton and Hove behind. We just haven't found enough people to fill our vacancies. We have noticed a lot of drivers coming down from London recently to join us because they want a better quality of life.

Mr French was baffled as to why there was a shortage of people wanting to become bus drivers but suggested it could be because of competition from the service industry for competent skilled workers.

He added: "I think it's a shame that there are not more local people interested and able to put themselves forward to do the job. But it's also positive that drivers are coming down from London and shows people are saying Brighton and Hove is a great place to come and relocate."

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