UNION chiefs have reacted with relief after the bus, rail and air operator Go-Ahead was named as the top bidder to buy Plymouth Citybus.

And they called for urgent talks with bosses at the transport giant.

"I'm relieved that Go-Ahead has been chosen over some of the other companies," Andy Gibbons, chairman of the Citybus branch of the union Unite, said last night.

"There were a lot of bids to start with, and some of them were more scary than others.

"From the very limited information I have, I would say that we may have found a way to move forward."

The final decision in the fierce debate over whether to sell Citybus, which is 100 per cent owned by Plymouth City Council, is set to be made at a meeting of the full council on November 30.

The size of the Go-Ahead bid is still a secret, but is expected to be revealed next week.

"It's a better option than Stagecoach, but they are still one of the big four," Mark Baskerville, Citybus representative for the union Unite, said.

Mr Gibbons said the news had "boosted staff morale slightly".

He said that the past four or five months of uncertainty had badly affected the mood of Citybus workers.

Mr Baskerville said: "We are still evaluating the latest news. Without knowing the details of the bid I don't know exactly where all this is heading. I have asked for an urgent meeting with the people at Go-Ahead.

"Now we know who we are dealing with we can take a more objective line, but we still haven't got any information. There is no meat on the bone."

Mr Baskerville accused the council of creating a "bus war" through inviting bids.

"They are trying to pretend there are no problems when cities sell municipal bus companies. But the Competition Commission is looking at the idea that the big four companies are creating a situation where they drive up prices."

"Big companies try to create a monopoly. I will reserve judgement on Go-Ahead, but that is what has happened in the industry.

"I still have concerns about members' jobs, public service, pensions and working conditions. A no-sale is still the best way forward."

Mr Baskerville said Unite would still go ahead with its march to the Guildhall and rally on November 28.

Bill Stevens, Labour councillor for Devonport, urged people who felt strongly about the proposed sale to attend the rally, and the council meeting.

"There has been a real lack of willingness on the part of Mrs Pengelly to engage in a debate about this," he said.

"Conservative councillors who might be in two minds about which way to vote shouldn't underestimate the strength of feeling out there.

"I know that the Conservative group isn't totally united on this. The debate on the 30th is going to be crunch time. That's when people are going to have to stand up and be counted."