CAROUSEL Buses Ltd is a small bus company which tries to compete with its huge competitor, Arriva the Shires And Essex, by offering alternative routes to customers.

Reporter MATTHEW HARRIS met owner Steve Burns to discover how a small company keeps its head above water in the face of stiff competition. Steve Burns has had a difficult week. His bus company has had to cut back one of its routes after passengers failed to use it.

But despite the setback, Steve, who runs Carousel Buses Ltd, in Desborough Road, High Wycombe, remains optimistic that his company can be successful.

He started Carousel last year after buying one £2,000 bus because he felt people in Wycombe needed more choice.

The fleet has now grown to four buses, which cover two main routes, from High Wycombe to Bourne End and Beaconsfield to High Wycombe. It also operates several school contracts.

Steve's aim is to try and serve more residential roads to make buses more accessible to people who find it difficult to walk to stops on main routes.

Like any small company, the challenge of competing with a bigger rival is immense, and Steve is constantly having to find ways of keeping his bus service competitive against Arriva the Shires and Essex.

One such way is to try and improve the relationship between the driver and passengers.

Larger bus companies have dozens of drivers but Steve's smaller workforce means he can build strong connections with the community.

He said: "We are a small company and aim to keep more of a personal touch.

"It's not in our interests to start a price war so we have to compete in other ways. We keep the same drivers on the route so customers get to know them which is something that Arriva cannot do."

Steve said his secret weapon is Malcolm Drabwell, who has been a bus driver for nine years

He started working for Carousel after swapping the busy London routes for the tranquility of the South Bucks countryside.

Malcolm said: "I like the area and the people.

"I always get on well with the regulars, they are wonderful.

"You have to try and help them as much as you can because at the end of the day people expect a good service."

A problem that Steve has had to face up to is the fact that Carousel tickets are not accepted on Arriva services.

He argues that, if they were, passengers would be the winners as they would be able to use whichever bus came first.

He said: "We would be more than willing to accept all other operators' tickets for the good of the travelling public.

"It should not matter whose bus comes up the road, passengers should be able to get on it."

All Carousel buses are red double-deckers, in line with High Wycombe's traditions, and this is a theme that is close to Steve's heart.

He said: "We will keep all our buses red and are introducing a traditional old bus with a conductor for use on high days and holidays."

Carousel seems to be popular with passengers who use it despite the company's recent setback, which has meant a section of the Beaconsfield to High Wycombe service has had to be cancelled.

The service will now operate between Holtpsur and High Wycombe.

To see Carousel in action, I spent a morning on Steve's buses and found most people thought he was doing a good job.

Paul Wright, who lives in Maidenhead, said he uses the High Wycombe-Beaconsfield service about three times a week.

He added: "This is a very good company and the driver Malcolm is a great bloke he has always got something to talk about.

"We have a bit of a natter and the bus is always on time.

"It also means I don't have to walk up these big hills to get from Holtspur to Beaconsfield

A passenger who lives in Gomm Place, High Wycombe, said Carousel drivers seemed more considerate than those of other companies, especially for travellers with young children.

She added: "The drivers are much more friendly. You get plenty of time to get to the front of the bus.

"The bus drivers from Arriva are very impatient when I press the bell to stop I need time to get to the front of the bus with my children."

But despite the plaudits, Steve knows he has a long battle ahead if his company is to survive.

David Shadbolt, of Arriva the Shires and Essex, said in response to the criticisms raised in this article: "Most of the services in the Wycombe area were taken over from the previous company.

"There will be changes to our services this month and one of the things to change will be the fact that there is not much time to get between destinations.

"The passengers will have more time allocated and we will be able to offer a better service to our customers when these changes are introduced."