BUSES withdrawn from a Huddersfield road after a spate of robberies last year are still not back on the route.

Arriva has refused to allow its buses to run along Keldregate - a long road running from Deighton to Bradley - until anti-crime devices have been fitted on them.

The firm says this measure is vital because no-one has been arrested and charged for robbing three of its drivers.

The robberies happened in the area last autumn, along with a spate of vandal attacks, including throwing stones at buses.

Arriva chiefs insist their buses must have CCTV systems and perspex screens to protect drivers before the service resumes.

Work is still going on to fit them and if all goes to plan the buses should be running again along Keldregate in about three weeks.

During the crime spree two bus drivers from First Huddersfield were also robbed.

A 41-year-old Sheepridge man charged with one of the robberies died from a brain tumour while on remand in custody.

No-one has been charged with the other robberies.

First Huddersfield had its buses running on Keldregate again before Christmas - but the vehicles already had security devices. It only withdrew the buses during the evenings.

Arriva commercial director Phil Booker said: "The man who robbed our drivers is not the one who was arrested and charged with the other offence.

"My information is that the descriptions are different and we are not aware that anyone has been arrested and charged.

"Some of the robberies on our drivers happened during the day, which is why we withdrew the service both during the daytime and evenings."

He added: "The CCTV cameras and perspex shields to protect the drivers are now being installed. If all goes to plan the buses should be running along Keldregate again soon."

The Arriva buses run from Huddersfield to Dewsbury and Heckmondwike.

At the moment they remain on Leeds Road, rather than diverting along Keldregate.