The First bus company’s decision to double the number of buses on a key route between Bradford and Leeds has been described as a “step in the right direction” by transport bosses.

Passengers travelling on service 72, which runs between the cities via Stanningley Road, Bramley and Thornley, will now be able to catch a bus every ten minutes.

Metro, the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority, welcomed news that First appeared to be taking steps to reverse the severe service cuts introduced across Bradford and neighbouring districts last year.

Bradford Councillor Chris Greaves, deputy chairman of Metro, said: “I’m very pleased they are doing this because it’s not so long ago that we had a huge cull of services, so to start getting services back is fine by me.

“Anything that encourages car users to use public transport is a good thing.”

Coun Greaves said key roads between Bradford and Leeds were “very, very congested” and added that the additional buses, which equate to an extra 250 bus seats an hour, were a “step in the right direction”.

To promote the new service 72, First has started a major marketing drive to encourage car and train users to try out the bus. A giant clock face, advertising a bus every ten minutes, will be placed on the side of the double deckers that travel the ten-mile route.

Leaflet drops to thousands of houses on the route promoting the new service and offering exciting competitions will also take place over the next few weeks.

Richard Harris, commercial director for First in West Yorkshire, said: “We have reacted to the demand for extra buses on the Leeds to Bradford route and are delighted to double the number of buses we run on service 72.

“I am sure our customers will appreciate the extra choice we are giving them by increasing the frequency of our buses. We believe this offers car and train users in the area a very real alternative form of transport, especially in terms of price and frequency.”