A £4 MILLION investment in main line bus services in Burnley and Pendle was given a double decker' launch, with events in Burnley and Colne.

Burnley and Pendle Travel has invested more than £3million in 21 new state-of-the art buses, while Lancashire County Council have put in £1million of public transport funds into improving bus stops, bus shelters and bus lanes on the main line between Colne and Padiham.

In Colne, the launch of the quality bus route partnership was attended by the Mayor of Pendle, Coun Colin Waite and local county councillor Tim Ormrod, while in Burnley, the second launch was attended by the Mayor, Coun Jack Alston, local county councillor Marcus Johnstone and Burnley MP Peter Pike, along with representatives of the bus company.

As well as the new single-deck buses Burnley and Pendle Travel, a subsidiary of the Harrogate-based Blazefield group, has previously spent £2 million on new double deckers for the X43 Manchester service operating partly on the same route.

Director George Scrymgeour thanked the Lancashire County Council and Burnley and Pendle local authorities for their part in the partnership, adding: "This will benefit bus passengers for many years to come.

"Burnley and Pendle Transport is the biggest bus operator in East Lancashire and this confirms our commitment to public transport in the area."

Buses on the route will receive priority at traffic signals and can also use the new bus lanes in Padiham Road, St James Street and Church Street in Burnley.

A total of 117 new or refurbished bus stops have been provided, with integral seating and internal lighting.

All stops on the route will be provided with bespoke colour bus timetable information which even gives the cost of your journey.

The new single-deckers provide a fleet of 21 state-of-the-art low floor, easy access, buses. Improvements have been made to each bus stop to allow the vehicles to pull right up to the kerb to eliminate the dreaded 'step-up.'

The buses are fitted with wider, more comfortable, seating with improved lighting and CCTV for added security and comfort.

Each bus is branded with the Mainline logo throughout to make the vehicles easy to identify.

County Coun Johnstone said: "This is a new era for the bus service in Burnley and Pendle and a good day for the travelling public from both areas."