Transport minister Sally Keeble has launched the first pilot of a scheme to introduce US-style yellow school buses to the UK.

The scheme has been set up by FirstGroup plc and Metro, in partnership with Calderdale District Council and local schools.

Keeble said: "I fully support this enterprising initiative and will follow its progress with interest. If the pilot scheme is as successful as its tried and tested American counterpart, yellow school buses may soon become a familiar sight across the country."

Forum Response: First

Moir Lockhead, chief executive of First, told ePolitix.com: "In the United States 54 per cent of children under 12 travel to school by bus, just seven per cent do so here.

"There is enormous scope for this sort of service to reduce congestion caused by the school run, boost safety and bring education benefits too.

"As soon as we started operating yellow school bus fleets across the US we realised the enormous benefits the service could offer here.

"Today is just the start. We hope many more parents and children will be attracted to the service. Already we are anticipating that today's initiative will reduce the number of cars on the school run in this part of the Pennines by some 45-50,000 a year.