LANCASHIRE has beaten tough competition at the UK's prestigious Bus Industry Awards and brought home three awards.

Four Lancashire County Council projects were shortlisted from 140 entries across 13 award categories.

The winners were announced at a ceremony held at the London Hilton.

Chorley's flagship bus station, designed to encourage residents to hop on board buses in and around the market town, was named the Infrastructure Award winner.

The new centrally-located Interchange building, managed by Blackburn Transport, includes enclosed waiting areas, electronic information, full facilities for disabled people, and CCTV security.

Ribble Valley service Bowland Transit rode out as winner in the Buses for Pleasure category.

A fleet of new branded buses has already carried more than 30,000 passengers around the Forest of Bowland since its launch in April 2003.

People in isolated rural areas, along with visitors, have all benefited.

Bowland Transit also scooped the award in the Bus in the Countryside category, after going head to head with Lancashire County Council's other shortlisted entry, Carnforth Connect.

This is not the first time Lancashire has earned honours for its public transport network. Lancashire County Council has won in several categories at the Bus Industry Awards over the past five years and, in June, was named Transport Authority Of The Year at the National Transport Awards.

Lancashire County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation Jean Yates said: "This is fantastic news for Lancashire, especially so soon after being given the title of Transport Authority Of The Year.

"These awards are the result of a lot of hard work and joined-up initiatives with local operators.

"This goes to prove that buses really are getting better in Lancashire - in fact we are leading the way in many areas."