A TRIAL run of American-style yellow school buses has been a huge success - and could be introduced to West Yorkshire soon if a cash bid succeeds.

A total of 150 of the buses will go into operation if the money comes.

They will be solely for schoolchildren, picking them up close to where they live.

One aim is to cut the number of cars on the road by reducing the need for parents to drive their youngsters to school.

Metro bosses are preparing to make an application to the Government for between £15m and £20m to buy the buses.

They will serve 90 schools - some of them expected to be in Kirklees.

Scattered rural areas could be among the top beneficiaries.

Metro chairman Clr Mick Lyons said: "This will make a significant contribution to our aims of encouraging people on to buses and out of cars, reducing traffic congestion and creating a new generation of public transport users."

Two yellow bus schemes already in operation in West Yorkshire at Hebden Bridge and Ilkley have been big hits.

Travel bosses say there have been big cuts in traffic build-ups around school gates - in some cases up to 60%.

Clr Lyons said:

"The buses have the same drivers each day, who are specially trained to look after children.

"And they only carry pupils to the participating schools, so any concern about members of the public using them is eliminated."

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