Historic bus company York Pullman is selling key parts of its business to transport giants First Group plc.

York's open-top tourist services form part of the deal currently being thrashed out between the 76-year-old firm's current owners, Durham Travel Services, and First York.

The north-east firm has assured passengers that its popular day-tripper and leisure services will continue and are not part of the sale. The name York Pullman will also remain.

First York will be taking over the company's premises at Elvington and Bootham from February 2, and services taken on board will include the council-contracted Easylink routes and school contracts, as well as the tourist double-deckers.

Over fifty staff are employed in areas affected by the sell-off, and a spokesman for Durham Travel Services said: "Most staff will have employment opportunities within the restructured company".

Brian Asquith, managing director of First York, said his firm was always on the lookout for drivers and was confident that plenty of new opportunities will arise as the company expands.

He said of the deal: "Most of the York Pullman services are contracted under the City of York Council so they would have to remain. We are talking to Durham Travel Services about the Easylink network, school buses and open toppers, which would be a different opportunity for us. In fact, many years ago our predecessors started the open-tops.

"We will be trying to produce a high-quality tourist attraction, possibly tied in with our other services. This gives us lots of opportunities."

On the jobs situation he added: "We will be taking enough staff to cover services, if they want to come to us. We are always looking for bus drivers and it's likely there will be further opportunities."

York Pullman was launched in 1926 by the late Mr Hartas Foxton, whose first services operated between Piccadilly and Easingwold and was known as the Red Bus Service.

Durham Travel Services bought the firm seven years ago from Kingston Upon Hull Transport for a "six-figure" sum.

Peter Lee, managing director of Durham Travel Services, said: "York Pullman has grown from strength to strength since we purchased the company seven years ago, which has made it very attractive to companies like First Group plc.

"I'm very proud of what we've achieved in York. Year on year we have increased the number of passengers on both our bus and tourist routes whilst keeping fares affordable for our customers."

Previous owners have seen the firm through a colourful 76 years. In the 1980s the then owners Reynard Pullman offered trips to the controversial Sellafield nuclear power station.

In 1999 passenger figures went through the roof, with 20,000 hopping on board the open toppers to make last summer a record season.

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