BUS passengers have been left scratching their heads after spotting a whopping 80 mistakes on Colchester town centre’s new bus stops.

Last week, Essex County Council replaced fittings at stops in the High Street, Head Street and St John’s and Osborne Street, after taking them over from bus operators.

Peter Kay, secretary of the Colchester bus users’ group, C Bus, said he and colleagues had found 80 mistakes on the signs. A particular bone of contention is signs at some stops which say certain buses will stop there when they do not.

Mr Kay said he had gone round attaching notices explaining timetables were unchanged, but claimed they’d been ripped down.

He added: “Instead of making people pleased to see a lot of smart new bus stops to replace the tatty old ones, they have succeeded in reinforcing the public view ‘they at the council’ are all idiots.”

Mr Kay said nine of the 14 buses advertised at one Head Street stop did not actually stop there Two stops in St John’s Street had had their positions reversed, forcing passengers to rush between the two when the buses arrive.

He said he and colleagues had previously worked for free to help improve a database, which sets out which town centre buses stopped where.

Essex County Council refused to comment about the bus stops.