SHINY new Yorkshire-built buses are ready to hit the road to add some sparkle to Keighley's link to Leeds.

The vehicles, manufactured by Optare, begin operating from this Sunday (October 8) on route 60, linking Keighley, Saltaire, Shipley and Leeds every 30 minutes seven days a week.

The route is being given an official new identity - "Aireline".

Aireline follows the River Aire along much of its journey – and the new buses won a thumbs-up ahead of their debut from a group at a preview this week outside Keighley’s Victoria Hall.

Among those present were "the voice of Aireline", Eric Scaife of the Yorkshire Dialect Society, who provides the on-board next stop announcements.

Also welcoming the new buses were Keighley MP John Grogan, Amjid Ahmed, Keighley’s deputy mayor, Graham Mitchell, former mayor, Phil Walker, support officer at Keighley Business Improvement District, Councillor Michael Westerman, chairman of Keighley Town Council’s Watch and Transport Committee and Neale Wallace, head of transport operations at West Yorkshire Combined Authority (METRO).

There will also be an opportunity for customers to explore the Aireline buses tomorrow (Saturday October 7) from 10am at Shipley Bus Station.

Keighley Bus Company general manager, Colin Booth, said: “We’re ready to bring first class quality at great value fares to our premier cross county Aireline service, with the introduction of these amazing Yorkshire-built buses filled with features suggested by those who know best – the people who travel with us every day."