NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY council is assuring parents that school buses will not be affected by the upcoming Go North East strikes.

The council has announced that they have commissioned a number of replacement bus services within the County so that children will still be able to go to school.

The strikes start from Saturday 30 September until Friday, October 6 with a second strike planned from Saturday, October 14 - Friday October 20.

A council spokesperson said:" Parents and guardians of children entitled to home-to-school transport whose transport has been affected have been notified separately. 

"Please check the Go North East website for the latest revised timetables regarding their services and the replacement services available. 

"Industrial action is set to bring disruption to bus and rail services over the next month starting from tomorrow (Saturday, September 30).  

"Passengers are urged to plan their journeys in advance and check with transport operators for the latest travel advice and revised timetables.

"Both Go North East buses and local train services will be affected by the strikes. 

 "Go North East anticipates that very few of its bus services across the North East will run at all. They are therefore advising customers to make alternative travel arrangements.

 "The main impact in Northumberland will be in the Tyne Valley, where Go North East is the biggest bus operator, but some parts of the south east of the county will also be affected. 

"Specifically, the following services are involved - the 74, 680, 681, 682, 683, 684, 686, 687, 688, 689, AD122 and X85 in the Tyne Valley as well as the 309, 352 and 353 in the south east."