Morebus has officially launched five new buses for its 13 route linking Bournemouth to Wimborne.

The Dorset bus operator, part of the FTSE 250 Go-Ahead Group, has invested in new British-built ADL Enviro 400 double deckers.

Andrew Wickham, Managing Director, said the purchase followed the recent introduction of a fleet of 41 single decker buses for the M1 and M2 routes.

“Bus travel in Dorset is popular and I’m delighted that we have been able to invest £8m in our Morebus fleet during recent years,” said Mr Wickham.

He added: “This latest move is in direct response to an increase in the number of passengers travelling along this popular route.

“We’re delighted more of our customers are choosing to leave their cars at home to travel with us on buses equipped with Euro 6 low emissions diesel engines and start/stop engine technology. That can only be a good thing for improving air quality in the region.

“We are incredibly proud of our new, greener, buses. As with all our new vehicles, on-board technology includes USB charging points for smartphones and hand-hand devices, as well as contactless ticketing.”

One of the new buses, which sport a distinctive look, was launched by Mr Wickham and Cllr Vikki Slade, Leader of BCP Council, at an event in Wimborne Square, before entering service along the Morebus 13 route.

Cllr Slade said: “Not only do the buses have a smart new look, they are incredibly comfortable and are far kinder to the environment than previous models.

“Buses like these provide us with an excellent opportunity to improve air quality and reduce congestion across our region.”