Bradford FreeCityBus has carried its millionth passenger.

The three vehicles have made 24,000 complete journeys around the city centre since the service started in September, 2008. And yesterday, the service reached the millionth passenger milestone.

Metro chairman, Councillor Ryk Downes, said: “Introduced after the success of our similar services in Leeds, Huddersfield and Wakefield, Bradford FreeCityBus has exceeded all expectations.

“By making it easier for people with mobility problems, buggies or small children to get around, Metro’s FreeBus services have been shown in surveys to increase numbers of shopping trips, which supports the local economy.”

Sponsored by Bradford College, Sovereign Health Care and the University of Bradford, the services run every ten minutes from 7am until 7pm Monday to Friday and 8.30am until 5.30pm on Saturdays.

The three-mile route links key locations around the city centre including Bradford Interchange and Forster Square Rail Station and shopping park, the Oastler Centre, Kirkgate Shopping Centre, Centenary Square, City Hall, the National Media Museum and the college and the university.

Since the start of the first service in 2006, Metro’s FreeBuses in Leeds, Huddersfield, Wakefield and Brad-ford have carried more than nine million passengers between them. The latest service is due to start in Dewsbury in December.