FORMER workers at a Hampshire bus firm have told of their sadness at its shock closure.

As reported in the Daily Echo, family-run Brijan Tours ceased trading in a move that has stunned the county’s business leaders.

The firm, which has been running bus and coach services for 25 years, has transferred all its bus routes to rival Xelabus.

It is not known how many people have lost their jobs but nine staff have joined Xelabus and will operate routes covering the Botley, Bishop’s Waltham, Hedge End and Eastleigh areas.

Now colleagues have paid tribute to the company that ran a distinctive fleet of cream-coloured coaches which have been a popular sight on Hampshire’s roads for excursions and school runs for three decades.

Former employee Becci Douglas said: “Most of us have transferred to xela to stay with our routes and regular friendly passengers. The coach side is no longer. Also, many staff have secured future employment.

“Yesterday was such a sad day for all concerned – one of the best companies I’ve had the pleasure to work for.

“It was incredibly nice to be appreciated and respected, which is something unheard of with the bigger bus operators. All the best, and good luck to my ex work colleagues.”

Another worker, who responded to news of the closure on the Daily Echo website, said it was a pleasure to work there. He added that the care the company gave its staff was “second to none.”

The shock closure comes after Brijan previously announced in July it was ditching its bus routes to focus on its coach services.

Directors struck a deal for Xelabus to take over the routes 7, 8, 15 and 17, with an official formal handover on September 7.

They said several drivers would transfer to Xelabus while remaining employees would be retained to operate the coaches.

But Companies House confirmed that all the Brijan directors had resigned, adding that Brijan’s accounts were four months overdue.

Xelabus boss Philip Blair has announced the routes have already been surrendered, adding: “We are reassuring the public that even though the company has ceased trading we are honouring the services.”

Brijan was launched in 1990 by Hampshire coach driver Brian Botley and his wife Janet.

Initially he worked from the couple’s house in Swanmore, taking bookings by phone and delivering tickets personally to customers’ homes.

Over the years he watched the number of Brijan vehicles grow from one to 25 as the business grew in strength.