The parent company of bus manufacturer Wrightbus - which laid-off thousands of workers - donated £1.3m to an affiliated church amidst financial trouble.

Wrightbus, known for building London's "Boris Bus", went into administration in September 2019 following debts of £58m.

Once known as the country's main bus supplier, the company's closure made some 1,200 workers redundant that same month. 

Its parent company Cornerstone then made a donation to Green Pastures Church in January 2019. 

The pastor at Green Pastures Church is Jeff Wright, who owns a controlling stake in Cornerstone and was the director of Wrightbus. 

Concerns have been raised over the donation as experts have argued the funds could have been used to help Wrightbus restructure.

According to the BBC, Wright claims the gift was made at a time when the business was financially stable and did not play a role in the failure of the company.

However, the transactions made in the run-up to Wrightbus' administration have been challenged by the BBC's Spotlight programme. 

In October, English industrialist Jo Bamford brought Wrightbus out of administration after agreeing to buy the factory and associated land from Wright.

It now employs 400 people.

Premier Christian News has reached out to Green Pastors for comment.