BUS passengers travelling from Hereford are riding in style following the delivery of the first new double-decker to one Herefordshire bus operator for more than 50 years.

Sargents Brothers Coaches has taken delivery of a new Optare Spectra 71-seater bus, which is fitted with a ramp for wheelchair users and has a stepless entrance and low floor to make it easier for all passengers to use.

The bus, which will run between Hereford and Kington, is believed to be only the third double-decker bus ever to enter service with a Herefordshire-based firm.

Funding

It has been provided with the assistance of funding from Herefordshire Council's Low Floor Bus Project, under which £957,000 is being invested on 2001/2 to allow 19 new low-floor, wheelchair accessible-buses to enter service on the county's routes.

The project has also provided three Optare wheelchair-accessible, single-deck buses to operate on the route linking Hereford with Weobley and Kington