BUS company First is so short of drivers that managers are having to take to the wheel to ensure services run to schedule.

The York-based company has blamed drivers leaving and holidays for the measures, which have been running for a couple of weeks.

Bosses at First today insisted that new drivers are coming through and said the current arrangements were only operating in the short-term.

Company chiefs believe it is giving managers vital experience of running the route, which they say can only help them provide a better service for passengers.

First has an on-going recruitment drive in York and has been taking active steps in an effort to secure new drivers.

It says a number of drivers will soon be coming on line which will make up the shortfall.

All the managers driving buses are fully qualified and hold a relevant licence.

Commercial manager Peter Edwards and operations manager Paul Bell are two of the drivers who have been taking to the streets.

Mr Edwards said: "We have been recruiting drivers. When people leave they only give a week's notice and it can take a number of weeks for us to recruit and train drivers in order for them to attain the appropriate standard.

"We have been caught by the lag time. Drivers are coming through daily now, but we are short at the moment. It is just so difficult at this time of year, because of holidays.

"In one way, because we are responsible for operating and design of the network, it has given us extremely useful first hand experience.

"We see a much bigger picture. This is the kind of thing that helps us to make the network a lot better."

Updated: 11:30 Tuesday, August 13, 2002