FOR decades its buses and coaches were a familiar sight on the roads of Hampshire, taking thousands of county residents from A to B.

But after Brijan Tours went bust people will have a last chance to say farewell to the well-known business as a coach will hit Hampshire’s roads one last time.

One of the firm’s buses will operate for the last time on September 5 and it is hoped that many of the residents who have used the firm over the past 25 years will line the streets to cheer it on its final journey. As revealed in the Daily Echo last week the family-run operator has gone out of business, with its directors resigning and its accounts four months overdue. An administrator is expected to be appointed at the firm over the next few days and nine workers have transferred over to bus firm Xelabus, which is taking on the firm’s routes.

It is not known how many more members of staff may lose their jobs.

The Daily Echo has not been able to speak to Brian Botley, who set the firm up with his wife Janet in 1990, despite repeated attempts to contact him. In 2009 he was awarded the Freedom of the City of London for his services to transport and at the time 40 staff worked at the company, based in Curdridge.

However just six years later and just weeks after striking a deal with Xelabus to take on some of its bus routes, the firm has gone out of business.Before Brijan buses are consigned to the history books one of its buses will complete routes 7 and 8 for one final journey. Passengers who have travelled on the firm’s distinctive cream-coloured vehicles are being urged to say their own goodbyes to the route 7 and 8 service as its makes its way between Eastleigh and Southampton via Bishops Waltham throughout the course of September 5.

Gareth Blair, operations director for Xelabus said: “This will be a sad day for former Brijan staff and customers but we felt I was a fitting tribute to the people who have been involved with the company to be thanked with an official last day. Services will continue beyond the September 7 with Xelabus running the routes and new timetables will be available from the 24th August.”Xelabus has taken on four of Brijan’s routes, which will be rebranded as Village Green routes and have new buses.

The number 7 route will become X10, the 8 service X9 and the 17 bus will become the X17.

Brijan’s 15 route will become the X15 and will operate Monday to Friday, rather than just on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and will be extended to Eastleigh from Hedge End.