DIVERSIONS across the city are angering Chester bus users.

Elizabeth and Eric Hart, of Lache Lane, are unhappy they had to walk to another bus stop after bosses closed the one on Foregate Street due to roadworks.

Mrs Hart said: 'This morning I had four bags of shopping and I had to go all the way back to the town hall. They tell me they have to run to a timetable. They can't possibly think of customers. The other buses manage to go around the Bars.' She added: 'I just feel the buses aren't being run for the convenience of the customer. I paid for a taxi. It cost £4. We are pensioners!'

Mr Hart said: 'It's a bit of sheer bloody-mindedness on behalf of the bus company. There's no reason why they can't go round the Bars' Love Street diversion. They have got a five-minute buffer at the town hall.' He added: 'For the last two weeks there has been a notice on Love Street warning of the diversions and delays.

'They publicise themselves as Chester city's own transport but they are not doing anything for it.'

Stuart Hyslop, managing director of Chester City Transport, said none of his buses were being diverted around the Bars' roundabout during the four weeks of roadworks.

He said this was 'because we don't have time to do it all day and we would have to say between 7.30 and 9.30 it would go and between 2.30 and 3.30 and so on, rather complicated, and we don't have time.

'So it was easier with the public to say that none of them will go round the Love Street diversion.'

He added: 'The problem is that this is the only cross-town route in this city. We have to operate to the timetable.'

He added: 'We were notified by the county council two days before the roadworks were due to start.'