TALKS between a county-based MSP and executives at Lothian Buses have been described as “positive and constructive”.

Craig Hoy, South Scotland MSP, had repeatedly called on the bus company to reintroduce the X5 service, which connects North Berwick and Edinburgh and had been sidelined during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The X5 was reinstated in June following a petition, launched by Mr Hoy, which attracted more than 1,000 signatures, but issues still remain, said the MSP.

He said: “A number of residents have been in touch to raise concerns about the reliability of buses and timetabling issues.

“The Lothian Buses representatives who I recently spoke to were forthcoming about some of the challenges they are facing, including ongoing driver shortages, funding in the aftermath of the pandemic and service considerations across the network, and I would like to thank them for taking the time to discuss these issues in detail.

“The discussion was positive, and I understand that they are monitoring the X5 bus service’s timetable which I hope might be altered slightly to arrive with enough time for commuters travelling into the west end of Edinburgh to get into work for 9am.

“But in the meantime, it is important we support our local bus services where possible to ensure that services like the X5 stay up and running.”