SPIRALLING diesel costs and the loss of council contracts have been blamed by a Malvern coach company which ceased trading this week after more than 60 years in the town.

Malvernian Tours, one of Malvern’s best-known businesses, closed its doors on Monday and is now proposing to enter into voluntary liquidation. All 10 employees have lost their jobs.

The company, formerly known as Jones Bros Coaches, was based on the corner of Belmont Road and Newtown Road.

Managing director Sharon Hodgkins said the difficult decision had been made with “great sadness”.

She said there had been a long, hard three-year struggle for the business following the death of her father Gordon Crump, then the managing director, in 2006.

She said that historic financial troubles were insurmountable, and that considerable falls in school transport contracts and the substantial rise in diesel prices meant the company was no longer viable.

Mrs Hodgkins said: “We would like to thank all our staff for their loyal support, and our customers who have travelled with Malvernian over the years.”

Malvernian Tours operated a handful of school services for Worcestershire County Council, including the Chase and Dyson Perrins.

Council spokesman Oliver Kinbrum said that schools had been informed of the situation and that the routes were being taken over by Astons and DRM Coaches with no disruption to service.