Bosses of Anglian Bus said passengers would not notice any difference in service following its takeover by the Go-Ahead Group.

Anglian, which operates 71 buses and employs 133 staff and has two depots in Rackheath, near Norwich, and Beccles, runs services from and within Norwich, as well as in Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and down the Suffolk coastal strip to Ipswich.

Set up in 1981 by David and Christine Pursey, the business also operates a mix of commercial routes and school and local bus contracts. The pair are set to retire following the takeover, but their son Andrew Pursey will stay as managing director and the company name and brand will remain in place.

No details of the deal were released, but Go-Ahead, which operates both bus and rail services, employs around 22,000 people across the country, and was one of the shortlisted bidders to run the region's rail franchise, losing out to Dutch firm Abellio.

In 2010 it also bought another local bus firm, Dereham-based Konect, and operates buses in Oxford, London, where it has a 20pc market share, the South East and the north of England. Its rail division operates the Southern (including Gatwick Express), Southeastern and London Midland franchises.

David Brown, group chief executive of Go-Ahead, said: 'Anglian Bus fits well with our strategy of acquiring well-managed businesses which have the potential for growth and further development. We look forward to building on the success already achieved by the Pursey family and the Anglian Bus team.

Andrew Pursey said: 'It's business as usual. My parents will retire and I will stay with Anglian Bus as managing director.

'The same management team will stay in place, buses will stay in our distinctive yellow and blue livery, and the Anglian name will remain on the streets of Norfolk and Suffolk.

'This opportunity will allow Anglian Bus to further expand its network of routes in Norfolk and Suffolk,' he added.