Watch: New fleet of buses launched in Telford

It is part of an investment which will eventually see 25 single deck, Wrightbus Streetlite Micro Hybrid buses delivered to the town during the first quarter of this year.

The 14 buses, which were launched outside Southwater One on Thursday, joined service 44, which runs between the Princess Royal Hospital, Leegomery, Wellington, Oakengates, Telford Town Centre and Madeley.

Bosses say 11 of the buses had already been introduced into services 11 and 22 on the South Telford Circular services linking Telford, Dawley, Madeley and Sutton Hill and customer feedback had been "extremely positive". Councillor Kuldip Sahota, leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, said: "We are very pleased with the new fleet of buses and I am sure that many bus users will benefit from the £3.5 million investment.

"And what is good about the new buses is that they are hybrid buses making them more energy efficient.

"As Arriva are one of our partners we are very please they have given us these 25 buses."

Passengers can benefit from imitation leather seating, ambient lighting and low carbon emissions.

Keith Myatt, spokesman for Arriva, said: "It is a very popular route linking several areas of Telford with Telford Shopping Centre and the colleges, New College in Wellington and TCAT.

"Not only will these vehicles improve comfort and connectivity, but also go some way towards us strengthening our environmental credentials.

"The vehicles also have low carbon emission bus certification, meaning they are eligible for an additional fuel support of 6p per km."