A BUS driver says he is thrilled his company has named a bus after a charity for which he has raised more than £44,000 for in the past 11 years.

Ron Hiley, 69, of Clayton, started raising money for the Marie Curie hospice in 2006 when he signed up for his first cycling challenge.

Now First has named one of its buses Marie Curie and Mr Hiley drove it to the Maudsley Street hospice to help promote the charity's Great Daffodil Appeal.

He said: "I’ve been fundraising for Marie Curie in Bradford since 2006 and I’m proud to support this local charity in any way I can.

"I’ve worked for First Bus, in Bradford, for over 30 years and the business has supported my mission to help raise funds and have named this local bus after Marie Curie, in recognition of my efforts to support the charity.

"It was great to bring the bus to the hospice."

Sharon Link, the hospice's community fundraiser, said “We are calling on the people of Bradford and the surrounding areas to help us make every daffodil count this year.

"All you have to do is volunteer two hours of your time to encourage people to give a donation and wear a daffodil pin, it’s that simple. So please consider signing up to one of our supermarket or street collections and together we can help Marie Curie Nurses provide vital hands on care and emotional support to people living with a terminal illness, and their loved ones.”

Anyone wishing to get involved with the daffodil appeal can contact mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil for details.