Keighley’s Christmas Day heritage buses were used by a record number of people, according to the group which runs the service.

Keighley Bus Museum Trust (KBMT) said its conductor statistics showed 652 passengers used the four routes, compared to 593 in 2010, an overall increase of 10 per cent.

Passengers were able to travel for free on the special, one-day service. The vehicles and qualified volunteer drivers have been provided for the past 17 years by KBMT. This Christmas the service was again sponsored by Keighley Town Council.

KBMT secretary David Jones said: “We are very grateful to the town council for continuing to sponsor our service on Christmas Day.

“This is a unique operation in the UK, recalling the time when councils like Keighley ran their own ‘Corporation’ buses, trams and trolleybuses.

“While the passenger numbers involved are not huge, they have been steadily rising over the years and the figure of 652 persons travelling with KBMT this time has exceeded our previous record total of 598 passenger journeys in 2008.

“It has indeed become something of a Christmas tradition in Keighley and throughout the Worth Valley, while also providing for an important social need in the town and around.

“Although the service attracts about half a dozen enthusiasts and photographers, the vast majority of passengers are obviously genuine local people, often laden with presents and making relatively short journeys by bus across the area.

“This once again makes the point that there is a customer demand for some form of skeleton bus service to serve social needs on Christmas Day, and probably on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day as well. Once again we draw this to the attention of the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority – Metro.”