A FLEET of vintage buses visited Poole Quay today to mark the centenary of Hants & Dorset.

Arranged by the company’s successor, Morebus, the 40 historic vehicles carried passengers on some of their original routes.

The event attracted hundreds of people, with many enthusiasts eager to photograph buses that have long since gone out of service.

“It was great seeing so many local people and Poole's mayor Cllr Xena Dion join us at today's event,” said Morebus managing director Andrew Wickham.

“Morebus, and Hants & Dorset before us, have been a familiar sight on the roads of Poole and Bournemouth for 100 years.

“They've been taking people to work, school, on outings and shopping for such a long time, and I'm delighted that travelling by bus is as popular as ever.

“During the last decade, we've worked with Borough of Poole and Bournemouth Borough Council to ensure high quality bus services continue to operate in the region - making significant investment in the services we offer here. During that time passenger journeys have increased more than any other region of the country outside of London.

“I look forward to seeing these figures rise still further over the coming years.”

The event, which ran between 10am and 4pm, also included stalls, memorabilia stands, refreshments and entertainment, raising money for children’s hospice Julia’s House.