A MODIFIED bus route which has increased passenger numbers by more than six per cent has been officially welcomed by Lancashire County Council.

Council representatives met Lancashire United bosses to celebrate the progress of recent changes and officially welcome the bus operators to Hyndburn's Quality Bus partnership.

Since its launch in 2000, when Stagecoach ran the Hyndburn routes, the new service has sought to provide bus travellers in the borough with a more reliable service, including the frequent provision of wheelchair accessible vehicles.

County Coun Wendy Dwyer said: "I welcome this improved service, not only because it is better for wheelchair users but also its great benefit to mothers with pushchairs.

"Hopefully the improvements will help to encourage more people to leave their cars at home and use public transport, which will benefit the environment and ease congestion.

"I now look forward to this main service being extended throughout the borough."

The well-known route which serves the towns of Accrington, Oswaldtwistle, Clayton-le-Moors, Rishton and Great Harwood has been improved through investments from the county council as well as previous bus operator Stagecoach.

And now Lancashire United, which took over at Easter last year, has been thanked for its role in the improvements.

Reliability has improved, passenger numbers have risen by six per cent and are increasing as more and more people leave their cars at home.

The route was initially launched with nearly 140 of the stops provided with raised platforms. All have all-colour timetables and new shelters with seating and lighting have been installed at 65 stops.

New bus lanes were constructed in Accrington and traffic signals amended to give buses priority in order to improve the service.

Since the original launch date a number of additional bus stops have also received the quality treatment and a further six shelters have been provided on the route. Further new stops and shelters are planned.

In addition the route is now serviced by a fleet of new wheelchair accessible, low floor buses operated by Lancashire United -- part of the Blazefield Holdings Group Ltd -- and journeys have been extended to stretch between Oswaldtwistle and Great Harwood. Sparth Road in Clayton-le-Moors has also been added to the route.

These state of the art low floor buses also provide internal and external CCTV coverage for added passenger security and are regularly ridden by police to monitor any problem on the vehicles or in areas they travel.

Graham Mitchell. communications manager of Lancashire United, said: "We are delighted to be part of the quality bus partnership which we have supported consistently."