HI-TECH transport devices have been hailed by ruling councillors - despite opposition complaints that they are not working properly.

Labour councillors say signs advising passengers when their bus is due are unreliable, and often result in "phantom buses" being signalled as having arrived when they haven't.

But Coun Ann Reid, transport chief at City of York Council, said York was recognised as a leader in the use of intelligent transport systems, and said such systems had contributed to the council's transport work being recognised as "excellent".

The council's ruling executive yesterday considered a report on various transport devices, such as driver information signs on the outer ring road; signs updating drivers on car-park availability; and public information panels that update people at bus stops on forthcoming buses.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, Labour spokeswoman on transport issues, said: "Reliability is far from what it ought to be.

"There are three parties here that need to come together and get the service right, and they are the council, First York and ACIS, the supplier of the BLISS (Bus Location and Information Sub-System).

"Once again, it is another unfortunate name for a system which is not delivering for passengers."

Her colleague Coun Dave Merrett said: "I have noted various displays either not working at all or correctly. Most annoying is the phantom bus', which does not arrive at the due time and then disappears off the screen."

A council spokeswoman said: "We recognise that the reliability of the system has been frustrating.

"We are working hard with the bus operators and system suppliers to improve it and hope that the improvements will make it even more useful for users."

At yesterday's meeting, Damon Copperthwaite, the council's assistant director for city development and transport, said: "The technology that we have put in so far is one of the reasons we were able to get the status of excellent from the Department for Transport for our transport arrangements."

He said it was recognised that reliability could be improved.

Coun Reid said: "Obviously the more real-time information we can give bus passengers, the more likely they are to use the buses. There is nothing worse than being at a bus stop unaware if the bus is even going to come."

Council leader Steve Galloway called for the system to be refined, so information could be sent to mobile phones.