Ageas Bowl becomes BlueStar bus training ground

Nearly 100 people took part in Bluestar’s push to find more bus drivers for its routes across the city.

Three buses were used as people were afforded the opportunity to take the 13-tonne machines for a spin around the cricket ground’s car park, in Botley Road, West End.

Driving instructors were on hand to guide the new drivers around the circuit on Saturday.

It was designed to get people interested in driving the vehicles and was hailed a success by BlueStar’s operations manager Paul Coyne.

Mr Coyne said: “This is primarily a chance for people to test out what it feels like to drive a double decker bus.

“People are often scared about driving one as they are massive machines but normally once they have given it a go they feel a lot more comfortable with it.

“A lot of people who have come off have filled in application forms to become a driver so the day has worked out really well and a lot of others have had fun trying it all out.”

He added: “If you can drive a car then you can definitely drive a vehicle this big, you’ve just got to give it a go.”

PICTURED: Daily Echo reporter Clive Hammond (left) with Ian Cole, Bluestar buses instructor

Here's what Clive made of it...

HAVING only secured my car driving licence last month, I wasn't really expecting the call from Bluestar, offering me the chance to test out one of its buses.

I still struggle to bay park, let alone reverse a 13-tonne double decker bus into a space about three metres wide. But sitting behind the wheel with instructor Ian Cole guiding me through, it was pretty exciting sweeping the bus within centimetres of the orange and white cones dotted across the Ageas Bowl's car park.

Granted, I was a little hesitant on the accelerator but I suppose this is to be expected of a man who's only just found his bite in a Toyota Aygo.

Tight, challenging but ultimately fun - driving's equivalent of any best mate.