We acknowledge that we had difficulties last year

Piers Marlowe, First City Line

Representatives of the First Bristol Bus and First City Line operations were ordered to attend an inquiry on Tuesday.

They were questioned about alleged lapses in standards spotted by safety inspectors on a visit to a depot.

Vehicle inspectors discovered "bad maintenance reports" and recommended action against the firms.

'Mistakes made'

First Bus had also been criticised for failing to give several weeks' notice before suspending some services.

Piers Marlowe, divisional director of First City Line, admitted mistakes had been made.

Mr Marlowe said: "We acknowledge that we had difficulties last year and we've explained what we've done to address those."

It was the second time in 18 months the group had been called before Philip Brown.

On the previous occasion, the company was fined �262,000 and ordered to take up to 90 buses off the road.

The penalty was later overturned on appeal.

A government transport tribunal said it was too harsh, given Bristol's traffic congestion and the demand for bus services in the city.