A BUS company has launched a new fleet of 35 vehicles to serve routes in North Durham.

Go North East has spent £5.3m to buy 25 new buses and upgrade 10 others serving customers in the Consett, Stanley and Chester-le-Street area.

The new vehicles mean passengers will have free wifi access on board, “talking bus” next-stop-announcements, leather seats and LED lighting.

Ten new single-deck buses will operate on the Red Kite branded route which serves Consett, Shotley Bridge and Rowlands Gill and 15 will be on the new Coast and Country service, previously known as Lime, which runs from Consett to Sunderland, passing through Stanley, Chester le Street and Washington.

The 10 upgraded double deckers will replace the current buses on the X70, X71 and 31 services serving Leadgate, Dipton and Burnopfield.

The company is also on track to remove all step entrances from all buses based at its Stanley depot, by the end of the year to improve access for disabled people and pushchairs.

Managing director Kevin Carr said: “Each year we have reinvested every penny of our profits back into improving services.

“These new vehicles will ensure our fleet is one of the most modern in the country and people in the Consett and Stanley area will notice a big improvement in their buses.

“We have loyal customers and we continue to innovate to ensure they stay with us. We are giving them features that they tell us they appreciate including free wifi, plug sockets, next stop announcements and comfortable seats.”