DARLINGTON has won a gold medal at this year’s UK bus awards.

Darlington Borough Council won the ‘local authority bus project of the year award’ for its work with Arriva North East in delivering better bus services in the town.

The council won recognition for its success in securing £8m of Government funding for delivering improvements to the town’s bus network, including priority schemes and improved stops.

The council has also secured additional Government funding for the town’s main bus operator, Arriva, to help them deliver new, modern buses on key routes equipped with next stop announcement systems.

This funding has complimented Arriva’s own extensive £7m investment programme which has seen the introduction of new and refurbished vehicles on key routes in the town, including Arriva’s sub-brands Sapphire, MAX and Frequenta.

The council also won a silver medal at the awards for its work in leading an innovative Department for Transport funded direct marketing campaign across the Tees Valley and County Durham offering people the chance to try their improved local bus service for free.

The campaign involved working across six local authorities and with Arriva, Stagecoach and Go North East.

Councillor Nick Wallis, the cabinet member for transport said: “The council values the role buses play in supporting the town’s local economy and making the town a good place to live and work.

"We work closely with Arriva, our main operator and are delighted that they have invested so much in their business here, it represents a real vote of confidence in the town.”

Nick Knox, managing director of Arriva North East said he was “extremely proud” of the company’s track record of working in partnership with Darlington Borough Council.