A BUS operator who was banned from the road for 10 years is still running services.

And John Walker, who was also hit with a £42,000 fine, could be free to run buses for months after launching a legal challenge against the ruling.

Transport chiefs revoked the licences for four of his firms - First Stop Travel, Barrhead Bus Company, Local Bus Company and Gullivers Travel - last month after he failed to adhere to timetables and ignored legal guidelines.

The ban was due to be enforced on August 15 but it could now be suspended pending the outcome of an appeal.

A spokeswoman for the Traffic Commissioner For Scotland said: "Mr Walker has appealed the original decision.

"It is still to be determined whether the August 15 deadline will stand. A final decision will be made next week."

Traffic Commissioner Joan Aitken branded Walker a "liar" in a strongly worded statement last month.

The companies operated around 65 vehicles and had 87 staff.

The traffic commissioner heard how one of the firms had targeted the successful Paisley-Glasgow route operated by Dixons of Erskine.

Mr Walker, who was found to have made false declarations on licence applications, had painted his buses in similar livery and issued tickets which were almost identical to the rival firm.

Ms Aitken said: "This represents bus operating at the lowest end of what is expected of licensed operators."

It is understood the firms quit their base in Muriel Street, Barrhead, at the end of May.

Mr Walker now hires space in a vehicle repair shop in Govan but he was unavailble for comment today.

The traffic commissioner heard 4.7million passengers had travelled with the operator in a year.

The buses operate mainly in Paisley, Neilston, Johnstone, Govan and Glasgow city centre.

A number of First Stop vehicles have continued to operate on Paisley Road West despite the dispute.

The Traffic Commissioner's report into the 21/4 service, between Paisley and Neilston, found 130 out of 149 services breached guidelines.

Figures show 78 buses failed to turn up and 52 were significantly early or late.