IT was all aboard for the launch of a new multi-million-pound bus route between two Hampshire towns.

Phase 1 of the controversial Bus Rapid Transit, linking Fareham and Gosport, was unveiled with some of the people who have helped make the dream become reality.

Hampshire County Council environment supremo Cllr Mel Kendall, and Marc Reddy from operators First South West and Wales, were at Gosport Explosion Museum for the launch event.

The £25m route, which has been built on a former railway line, has been designed to alleviate traffic problems on the A32 by tempting people out of their cars and on to public transport.

The project has been dogged by controversy and delays, with a bitter legal dispute between planners and wildlife campaigners eventually ending up in the Supreme Court.

But top judges gave the scheme the go-ahead in January last year, and the first passengers started using the service yesterday.