3 March 2006

Selwyns Travel acquire Hardings (Sightseers) Tours, Liverpool

Selwyns Travel has bought, for an undisclosed sum, Hardings Travel of Liverpool, taking over the business, trade and assets including all of the vehicles.

The Depot at Liverpool will remain as the main operating centre for the Hardings fleet of 12 vehicles and it will be operated as a separate Division of Selwyns.

The booking office at Birkenhead will continue to book Holidays, Day excursions and Private Hire for the Hardings business and all staff at Birkenhead and Liverpool will be retained.

The well known and respected Hardings' name, established in 1930, will be maintained as it is the oldest surviving coach operation in the Merseyside area and a household name.

Hardings are the largest local Holiday and day excursion operator in the Liverpool, Wirral (Merseyside) area carrying approx 40,000 passengers a year. The Private hire business is extensive, of which a great deal is presently sub contracted to other operators, Selwyns will be able to support Hardings with its fleet of vehicles from the Runcorn base.

Selwyns will now be seeking to invest in the business to strengthen its position in Merseyside. As far as the suppliers and customers are concerned the transaction will be seamless and they will be dealing with the same staff at Hardings Tours Ltd. It’s vital that continuity is maintained during these circumstances and disruption kept to a minimum.

With Depots at Liverpool, Runcorn and Manchester Airport, Selwyns' catchment area covers Merseyside, North Cheshire, Central and South Manchester.