Birmingham bus celebrates its centenary
They were not expecting a card from HM the Queen, but one of the Midlands' most recognisable residents has celebrated its 100th birthday.
The Birmingham bus has celebrated its centenary, and to celebrate the region's biggest bus company National Express West Midlands held a party.
Visitors to Birmingham's Centenary Square - a fitting venue for the huge milestone - were treated to buses from across the ages.
People were invited to hop on board two of the transport beasts from the 1950s, while a modern day hybrid was also on show outside the brand new Library of Birmingham.
It was also the public's first chance to glimpse a prototype 'next generation' Birmingham bus which will be hitting the roads of the West Midlands next year. These new vehicles are expected to provide a step change in public transport, and will be used on key commuter routes.
And no birthday party would be complete without a cake, which was cut by Birmingham City Council's deputy leader Councillor Ian Ward and National Express West Midlands COO Paul Thomas. Goodie bags were also handed out to visitors.
Centro's customer information team was also at the special event on Friday along with the award-winning Safer Travel Police Team.
The party was held just a day after it was announced 52 new buses worth £9 million would be on the roads of Sandwell over the next few years.
The new vehicles will based at the company's West Bromwich garage, and will travel across the borough as well as the rest of the Black Country.
The buses will be introduced as part of a £100m investment from the bus operator over the next five years, with Sandwell getting the biggest single slice to improve its public transport network.
