A SMALL bus operator which linked Bournemouth and Christchurch with the New Forest and Salisbury has gone out of business.

Gardbus said it had ceased trading and intended to appoint insolvency practitioners shortly.

The Ringwood-based firm had a small fleet of buses running on four routes between Bournemouth, Ringwood, Salisbury and Alderholt. It also had a private hire business.

Hampshire County Council has brought in Morebus to run some buses on the company’s 125 route until July, after which it will make a decision about the service’s future. The 125 runs on weekdays between Ringwood and Christchurch via Poulner, Burley, Thorney Hill, Bransgore, Burton and Somerford.

A statement on the Gardbus website said: “Please be advised that Gardbus has ceased trading with immediate effect. Insolvency practitioners will be appointed and a helpline for affected creditors will be announced shortly.

“We thank you for your custom over the past six years. Customers should contact the local authority in the area in which they live for details of alternative transport arrangements.”

Cllr Sean Woodward, Hampshire County Council’s cabinet member for transport, said Morebus would be running a “partial replacement” for the 125.

“This will maintain a shoppers’ service for the area for an initial period of approximately two months while we consider the situation further,” he said.

“This service will be for three days a week, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, as per the 175 service that was subsidised by the County Council until January 2015, but to the same route as operated by Gardbus and to the same times as Gardbus up to the 1435 arrival in Ringwood.”

The Gardbus 41 service from Alderholt to Salisbury via Fordingbridge, Downton and Bulford is being temporarily run by Ringwood Radio Cabs. After Friday, it will become a “demand responsive service” – meaning passengers will have to ring the cab company to book a ride.

Cllr Woodward added: “During the next couple of months we will look at the number of passengers travelling, gather some data and then determine what level of service will be provided after this period.”

Dorset County Council said it had been discussing options with counterparts at Hampshire.