A NORTH EAST town has become one of the first in the UK to welcome a fleet of new environmentally-friendly gas buses.

Eleven of the gas-powered buses have been introduced on routes around Darlington by Arriva, as part of a £2.2m investment into the town’s services.

The buses run on mains gas from the National Grid, which is treated and compressed into tanks on the roof and provides enough energy to run 300 miles each day.

Arriva hope the buses will reduce pollution in the town centre and also encourage more people to use the bus.

The gas buses were launched at an event in Darlington town centre, where people were invited to tour one of the new vehicles.

Nigel Featham, regional managing director for Arriva, said the introduction of gas buses to Darlington was a ‘fantastic investment’ in the town.

He added: “We had to pick some sites to launch the gas buses in the UK and selected Darlington as one of the first because of the support we received from the local authority, who are very good to work with and very interested in public transport.

“In terms of exhaust fumes and emissions, these gas buses are at the leading edge and should help make the environment cleaner.”

The gas buses will run on four routes in the Branksome, Red Hall, Hurworth and Middleton St George areas.

To make the services more sustainable, Arriva has pledged to return biogas, produced from sewage and landfill, back into the grid.