A family-owned coach company has announced that it will be shutting down this summer.

Barry’s Coaches - based in Weymouth but familiar across the roads of west Dorset- says operations will cease permanently on July 31.

The coach company has around 20 coaches and operates several school routes, day tours, UK and Continental tours, airport/ferry transfers, as well as wedding transport and contract hire.

It is shutting down not for financial reasons but because of the retirement of two key members. The company will be downsizing from June 2 with the cessation of seven school routes, but says it intends to honour the majority of current bookings.

The company has refused to disclose how many jobs will be affected.

A representative for Barry’s Coaches said: “We are in the process of restructuring operations with a view to downsizing in preparation for the retirement of key members of the family-owned company. These decisions are never easy and have not been taken lightly.

“Recent announcements have impacted this process making the situation more pressured for all members of the team.

“We have been liaising with Dorset Council during this notice period and part of this process is the discontinuation of home-school contracts on June 2 with the cessation of all operations on July 31, 2023.

“In the interim period, Barry’s will endeavour to honour and uphold the majority of current bookings and will be liaising with customers directly.”

The representative added: “We have proudly traded for over 50 years with home school contracts forming a significant amount of the local operations over this time, having conveyed generations of families to schools across the area. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers and staff for their loyalty and support over the years.”

The company will be looking to sell its fleet of coaches, including two large double-decker 85-seat coaches.

Barry’s Coaches was founded by Barry and Margaret Newsam and evolved out of a black taxi cab in the early 1960s. Mr Newsam purchased his first coach when he was offered a contract to transport filming crew and extras for Thomas Hardy’s ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’ whilst they were on location in Dorset.

The school routes that will be affected by the downsizing on June 2 are ME001, MF004, ME005, ME006, ME007, ME014, ME015.

This will affect Puddletown First School, St Mary’s First School Charminster, St Mary’s Middle School Puddletown, Dorset Studio School, St Osmund’s Middle School and The Wey Valley School.

A spokesperson for Dorset Council said: “Barry’s coaches have informed us that they will no longer be providing mainstream school buses from 2 June.

“We are working with other bus operators to provide this service until the end of term, and we will be in touch directly with parents and carers as soon as alternative transport has been secured.”