A Bradford bus company is spending £9.1 million upgrading its fleet with low emission vehicles.

First will introduce 55 buses fitted with the latest EU-approved Euro 4 engines into its services in the district from next year.

The high-tech engines significantly reduce the level of carbon dioxide emissions.

First will put nearly 350 low emission vehicles on the roads across Britain and only Glasgow, with 62, will get more than Bradford.

Khadim Hussain, First Bradford operations director, said: "The reason Bradford is getting so many, is because we have a really good customer base here, with many passengers using the buses and they should have a good quality service."

All the buses in the First fleet already run on low-sulphur diesel with the majority switching to zero-sulphur diesel or bio-diesel by the end of January 2007.

Since the beginning of 2006, First has introduced buses in Bradford which help the environment by running on a blend of 5 per cent bio-diesel, and 95 per cent normal diesel. This reduces particulate emissions and climate change gases, as well as helping the buses to run smoother and quieter.

Mr Hussain said: "These new buses are a development on what we already have here in Bradford, and a further initiative to reduce CO2 emissions."

Bradford First has also worked Bradford Council and Metro, the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, in a partnership to introduce congestion-beating priorities for bus passengers.

Mr Hussain said: "We are working in partnership with local authorities and in the past we have worked on various initiatives, including the guided bus lane in Manchester Road."

Nicola Shaw, managing director of First UK Bus, said: "We are investing to encourage people to use the bus - more environmentally-friendly means of transport than the car.

"The new buses will also improve the quality of service we can offer to our existing customers.

e-mail: ali.davies@bradford.newsquest.co.uk