The mini-links in my area first appeared after de-regulation (like everywhere I suppose). At the time, I was living in Blaydon and the first mini-link service was the 630 which operated between Blaydon and Snook Hill Estate in Winlaton. Then there was the 628 which operated between Blaydon and Winlaton via Hole-in-the-Wall Estate; and the 629 which operated between Winlaton and Lobley Hill via the newly opened Metrocentre. All of these were precursor to the 'M series' of routes which operated between Metrocentre and Winlaton (and, of course, Lobley Hill, Sunniside and Whickham).

Having mini-links going to the Metrocentre was a bad idea as they were usually chocker-block coming back and, if you weren't first in the queue, it was standing-room only for most of journey. At Blaydon, even more people were crammed in. Even when sitting, it was still an uncomfortable journey.