A HAMPSHIRE bus service has been blocked in its depot after a financial dispute between a firm and its mechanics.

Black Velvet Travel’s Velvet A service between Hedge End and Southampton is unable to leave the Chickenhall Lane, Eastleigh, depot, due to damaged gates, according to firm bosses.

Velvet chief executive Phil Stockley said: “There has been a problem with the gates at our yard which have been damaged.

There is just one service that is not running at the moment, which is our Hedge End to Southampton Velvet A route.

“We have not reported it to the police as we are trying to resolve this amicably. Anyone who is unable to use that route has the Bluestar 3 service available but if anyone has bought a ticket for our service who is unable to use it they can contact us and we will sort out a refund.”

He added he was confident the dispute would be resolved today.

Services to Eastleigh, Fair Oak, Marwell and Hiltingbury are still running.