BUS inspectors are making a comeback in Wirral.

A new team of ten inspectors will be on the First buses around Wirral, Ellesmere Port and Chester.

Dressed in their distinctive black uniforms they will be providing extra reassurance for customers, monitoring the running of services against timetables, and checking tickets.

Each member of the new inspection team is equipped with a Pocket PC with software able to record individual bus timings.

Inspectors hope this will highlight any route difficulties which can be dealt with immediately, and make sure timetables reflect actual times.

Christopher Blyth, First's operations director for bus services in Chester, Ellesmere Port, Wirral and Flintshire said: "Our highly visible inspectors are the company's eyes and ears out on the road, watching services and caring for customers and staff. They provide the personal touch that growing customer numbers have said they would like to see.

"Their new PCs also ensure much faster collection of service information than we have ever had in the past, and this enables more accurate timetables to be produced in the fastest possible time."