Huddersfield Town fans are being left in the lurch by bus diversions.

Supporters catching buses from Dewsbury, Batley, Birstall and Spen Valley, or from the town centre, are fuming because buses don’t run past the John Smith’s Stadium on matchdays.

Buses, including the 220 and 229 Leeds-Huddersfield services, are being diverted away from Leeds Road between 2pm and 5.30pm on Saturdays.

Bus company Arriva Yorkshire has blamed congestion and delays.

Buses come through Cooper Bridge but are diverted off Leeds Road at the Bradley traffic lights and go through Deighton and Sheepridge before joining Bradford Road at Fartown and heading into Huddersfield Bus Station.

The diversion applies in the opposite direction.

Fans then have to make their own way from town to the stadium.

Town fan Alan Hodgson, 59, of Birstall, said the diversions were ridiculous and added: “I thought buses were there to provide a public service. This is no service at all.”

Alan has complained to Arriva and bus operator Metro but hasn’t had a proper explanation.

On Friday Alan checked with Arriva that his usual 1.15pm Saturday bus from Church Lane, Birstall, would avoid the diversion and was assured it would.

But the following day when the bus reached Cleckheaton Bus Station and had a change of driver, the new man announced he would be missing out Leeds Road.

Alan protested and the driver phoned his depot and backed down.

“It’s completely mad and doesn’t make any sense at all,” said Alan.

“Arriva say that buses are running late because of queues on Leeds Road but would they rather run empty but on time than have paying passengers on board?

“Arriva also told me that it was about drivers coming to the end of their hours but how can that be when a new driver gets on at Cleckheaton?”

When Alan travelled to the Bournemouth game last month the bus was diverted.

“There were a few of us on board and we asked the driver to let us off near the Slubbers Arms so we could walk down but he said he couldn’t do that for insurance reasons,” said Alan.

“As it was he let us off at red lights in the town centre.”

Alan’s seven-mile journey home after matches is no better.

He walks into Huddersfield to catch a train to Dewsbury – but then has to wait half-an-hour for a bus to Birstall. It’s gone 7pm before he’s home.

“It’s no real hardship as I can go for a pint but it’s just the inconvenience,” said Alan.

“There are older people and those with children and when the darker nights and worse weather comes people will say it’s all too much trouble and won’t bother going to games.”

Alan said it wasn’t just Town fans who were put out.

“What about people who work at Syngenta, want to go to the retail parks or want to visit friends and relatives on Leeds Road? They are stuck as well.”

Alan has won the support of Huddersfield Town Supporters’ Association and secretary Robert Pepper said: “It’s like we are banging our heads against a brick wall.

“We might have to look at providing fans with some form of transport if Arriva sticks to this stupid policy.”

Arriva confirmed diversions do not apply to evening matches.

Nigel Featham, regional managing director for Arriva Yorkshire, said: “We strive to provide the best possible service for our passengers and it is important that our regular customers get to where they need to be.

“We made the decision to put a diversion in place as local residents were being severely inconvenienced by the congestion on match days.

“We would urge all fans to travel on the buses before the diversion starts at 2pm.”