NO COUNTY community will be left without a bus service from June, the leader of East Lothian Council has pledged.

Councillor Paul McLennan has reassured villages, including Pencaitland, Ormiston and Elphinstone - whose only buses are being withdrawn by First - that access to services will be maintained.

The pledge came following "encouraging" talks in the wake of First's announcement last week that 13 routes are being axed in June, along with up to 40 jobs at its Musselburgh depot.

Mr McLennan met Iain Gray East Lothian MSP, Colin Beattie Midlothian North and Musselburgh MSP and county MP Fiona O'Donnell on Tuesday to ask for their support for proposals which could see the council taking control of several of the affected services.

Both Mr McLennan's SNP Group and the Labour Group have pledged to include similar manifesto commitments at the forthcoming council elections for many of the axed services to become council-run.

Mr Gray (Labour) said he would need to see more of the council's "embryonic" plans before supporting them, but has raised the issue in the Scottish Parliament.

East Lothian Council and Midlothian Council - along with First, Lothian Buses and the Scottish Government - were due to meet today (Friday) to discuss long-term options for bus services in the area.

A council spokeswoman said that this could include the possibility of shared cross-county services, if appropriate.

She also said the short-term outlook for services was "looking promising in terms of being able to cover the gaps caused by First's announcement".

The SNP has proposed establishing an arm's-length company to run local bus services.

Mr McLennan said: "As soon as First made their announcement we were in contact with other providers and encouraging initial discussions have taken place.

"We are working tirelessly to protect and support our communities and I can give reassurances that none of our communities will be without services in June. "

Fellow SNP councillor Tom Trotter, ward member for Haddington, gave the same commitment to the town's community council on Tuesday.

Mr McLennan added: "We are in the process of writing to the community councils affected with an update and offering to meet with them to discuss it further if they wish."

Mr Gray has lodged a parliamentary motion regarding the buses situation at Holyrood, calling for the Scottish Government to acknowledge that a cut of 20 per cent to the Bus Service Operators' Grant "has contributed to the axing of these services".

The motion - which has been backed by 19 other MSPs - asks that the government works "as a matter of urgency" with local authorities and bus operators in affected areas "to mitigate the impact of these cuts".

The MSP said: "First are quite adamant there is no way back from their decision.

"I am in favour of looking at all options to secure the best possible bus service for residents. But industry insiders are very sceptical and in any case a new bus company could not be up and running by the time First stops running most of its services.

"So while such a scheme could have merit in the longer term, it does not strike me as a solution to the problems facing bus passengers and local communities in the immediate future.

"East Lothian needs to reach urgent agreement with other providers."

Meanwhile, First is continuing to assist the council and affected staff.

Paul Thomas, managing director of First Scotland East, said: "Consultations with the trade union and employees continue and we are also providing support to the local authorities.

"Despite the distressing news, our staff have remained thoroughly professional and continue to show their commitment and dedication."

Pencaitland Community Council has used its website - http://edubuzz.org/pccouncil/ - to encourage residents to take part in car pooling.