London Transport is selling the site to developers and must vacate on May 17. But the proposed new base in Tolworth is not ready, says bus operator London United.

When the existing garage closes, the buses will temporarily spend their nights on wasteland at the Rockware factory site in Kingsgate Road.

All routes will continue to be operated from Kingston except the 411, which will move to Fulwell, and the 568, which is being terminated - to the fury of Chessington residents - on May 26.

Campaigners, with the support of local councillors are battling to save the bus which provides a vital route to Epsom General hospital.

A spokesman for London United said: "From our point of view it [the garaging arrangement] is not ideal because it doesn't have the facilities you need for a garage, for example those for washing and maintenance.

"We will be making every effort to clean the buses but it will mean taking them to the Fulwell garage, near Twickenham. This shouldn't affect customers."

He said: "We were expecting it but we were expecting to have to vacate the premises in August or September when we might have had alternative premises in place."

But a spokesman for London Transport said: "The date was brought forward for the sale, but they knew it was going to be sold. Sorry about that, but that's business."

He added: "It doesn't behove us well not to have a reliable bus service in the area, so plans to sell were all discussed in advance."

In a letter to London United staff at the garage, general manager Alex Juniper said the company had secured

1.5 acres of land for a new

bus operating base at the

Day Aggregates site in

Tolworth and would be applying for planning permission soon.

The London United spokesman said: "Ideally we would like to remain in Kingston, but it is important that we stay in the borough."