A HISTORIC bus has found a new home for the winter.
The Darlington Fleetline No. 50, which was taken out of service in 1994, will be 50 next year.
Repairs were halted this year because the Darlington Bus 50 group had no-where to keep the 1970s vehicle but the owners of Lingfield Point have stepped in.
Read more: Plea made to find home for historic Darlington bus
Estates manager Mick Anderson said: “It’s a privilege to be part of the amazing story of this bus, which is a real draw at events and rallies as people are so keen to share their memories of seeing it around Darlington.
“When we heard how much effort had already gone into its repair, we thought it would be such a shame if any further damage was done purely because it needed some protection from the elements.”
The bus has undergone major mechanical repairs in the last few years and was temporarily being stored under tarpaulin at an industrial estate.
Paul Jackson, of Darlington Bus 50 group, said: “It’s brilliant to have certainty over the winter for this beloved vehicle, and to have such support from Lingfield Point.
"The local community has really rallied round to help us preserve part of the town’s history, and we hope to show it in all its glory in 2022, when it will be 50 years old.”
The warehouse is part of the 86-acre Darlington business park which provides over 1.3 million sq.ft. of commercial floorspace to occupiers such as DWP, NHS, Student Loans Company, Capita and Wood Group.
To find out more about the bus and the team’s plans for its ongoing restoration, visit darlingtonbus50group.yolasite.com. And to find out more about Lingfield Point, call 01325 486486, or visit lingfieldpoint.co.uk.
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