A bus firm has been accused of leaving passengers "in the lurch" after changing its timetables but not updating service information.

First Bus has introduced a raft of service alterations in the Stirling area but several affected bus shelters and stops are still showing old information.

It said this responsibility falls under Stirling Council's remit, while the local authority has pledged to sort out the issue this week.

Residents contacted Stirling MP Steven Paterson to raise their concerns after being left "hanging about" because the timetable information had not been refreshed.

He said: "Many of my constituents only found out that their regular bus service had been changed or cancelled when it didn't turn up to the bus stop.

"This is an appalling situation travelling to work or to access local services.

"I have written to the managing director of First Bus to raise these concerns, to request that these bus timetables be updated as a matter of priority and to ask what measures will be taken in future so that First Bus customers are never left in the lurch like this again."

Mr Paterson and Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford met First Bus ahead of the roll-out of service changes, when he said they were "assured bus users would be kept up to date with the consultation process and any proposed changes".

First Bus said it had conducted a month-long consultation ahead of rolling out the changes.

A spokesman for the firm said: "We are very concerned to hear about the problems some of our customers have faced following the introduction of these service changes.

"There has clearly been an issue with the availability of information at bus stops, which is the responsibility of Stirling Council and outwith First Scotland East's control.

"We undertook a four-week period of consultation on service changes with key stakeholders including council officials, councillors, MP and MSPs.

" In addition, six weeks prior to these alterations commencing, we provided Stirling Council with full details so that their various media outlets, including bus stops, could be updated.

"Following this the council advised us of a series of tendered and school service changes it wished to implement, which may have impacted on publicising alterations to customers."

The bus operator said it will respond to the MP's concerns and had done its best to notify customers through "available channels".

Stirling Council said it had been delayed in updating the timetables because of the large number of changes being implemented at the same time.

A spokeswoman said: "Stirling Council is one of the few councils in Scotland who continue to provide timetable information at each stop.

" Due to a succession of timetable changes caused by the bus operators we have significant changes commencing August 1, 15 and 22, as well as September 12, affecting almost every bus stop in the council area.

"Due to the number of changes that have been made over this period we are now in the process of replacing all of the timetables at the same time, which will be completed by Wednesday evening."