TRAFFIC in York was running smoothly again today, despite the return of schoolchildren during the current bus strike would bring transport chaos to the city.

There were no reported traffic jams or serious congestion, Park&Ride was running normally and taxi firms in York said they were busier but had not been troubled by extra demand for the school runs.

It appeared that staggered starts for youngsters to return to school had contributed to the low levels of traffic as the morning rush hour passed without incident.

Many travellers seemed to have heeded advice to use alternative public transport, cycle, or walk in to the city during the four-day First dispute, which finishes at the end of today.

The latest action followed a one-day strike last week.

York businesses said their workforces had remained largely unaffected by the strike, with the good weather encouraging people to walk and cycle to the office.

Helen Edwards, of City of York Council, said car-sharing schemes and the Park&Ride buses were helping staff get to work at the local authority's bases all over the city.

Spokespeople for Portakabin, in Huntington, and Nestle Rowntree, in Wigginton Road, said there had been no reported travel problems among staff.

A Norwich Union spokesman said workers were having no problems reaching offices in Monks Cross and the city centre. He said: "Our staff are resourceful enough to make arrangements between themselves."

Taxi firms across the city reported they were busier than usual, but did not put this down to extra journeys ferrying children to school.

At Fleetways, a spokesman said: "It has been a fair bit busier and we have been peaking pretty much all day."

Streamline Taxis and A1 Taxis also reported they had more cars out on the road than usual, but said their normal school runs would not start until tomorrow.

At Station Taxis, at York Station, a spokeswoman said the return of schoolchildren to classes had not appeared to make much difference.

Updated: 10:37 Tuesday, September 02, 2003