A trio of key bus routes could be out of service for up to a month.

From today (August 1) the routes 66 from Waltham Cross to Debden, 86 from Harlow to Waltham Cross and 87 from Epping Forest Shopping Centre to Harlow will stop running.

On September 1 Arriva will take over the services, having agreed to pick them up after previous operators EOS wound up business.

EOS was due to keep the routes going until the end of August, but are now reportedly unable to due to insurance issues.

Arriva will run the busses again earlier than September if the Traffic Commissioner signs off the paperwork.

An Arriva spokesperson said: “Unfortunately due to legal reasons beyond our control we will not be able to run routes 66, 86 and 87 from August 1.

"We are working closely with the Traffic Commissioner and Essex County Council to ensure a normal service is resumed as quickly as possible, the latest date for this will be September 1.

"We will keep customers fully updated in the days to come."

Dave Plummer, a campaigner with the Epping Forest Transport Action Group, said: "From the group's point of view it is shocking.

"We were campaigning to get later services, and then we find out that the main service is not running.

"Arrive will hopefully be in a better position to provide a consistent service.

"It just shows how important it is that public transport isn't left to the private sector."