Plans for an Edinburgh transport strategy have been approved by councillors despite union members raising concerns that the move would have an impact on Lothian Buses.

Transport For Edinburgh (TfE), which also oversees the city's trams, has been given a wider remit to "integrate" the capital's transport system.

Representatives from Unite the union gave a presentation to the transport committee on Tuesday, raising concerns that the new "service level agreement" would pave the way for Lothian Buses to be used to subsidise other services or be sold off.

They were supported by a group of bus drivers who gathered outside city chambers on the Royal Mile ahead of the meeting.

TfE, which was set up in October 2013, holds the city council's shares in the bus company and helps develop an overall transport strategy for the city.

Publicly-owned Lothian Buses, which reports directly to the local authority, will retain its own board and management.

Transport convener Lesley Hinds insisted the local authority was committed to keeping Lothian Buses in public ownership.

She told the committee: "None of us have any desire to change that - I want to give that reassurance. We want to have an integrated transport system and we need to have a discussion about the operational plan."

Speaking after the decision, Unite regional officer Tony Trench said he was not convinced by Ms Hinds' reassurances.

Mr Trench said: "We are extremely disappointed with this decision and are increasingly concerned about the lack of transparency over this process."