First step for Big Lemon

10:12am Monday 20th November 2006

An entrepreneur hoping to launch a bus company with just three vehicles has passed his driving test.

Tom Druitt, 28, is attempting to take on Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company with his own firm - The Big Lemon.

The former care home manager, of Norfolk Street, Brighton, has no experience of running a travel firm but his idea was well received at a public meeting and in forums on The Argus website.

Mr Druitt owns one doubledecker bus and is securing two more vehicles.

This week he obtained his category D driving licence.

He said: "The operator's licence is the next big thing. We should put our application in soon."

If all goes to plan, The Big Lemon could be launched in March. At first it will operate on a single 25-minute route, running once an hour.

Eventually Mr Druitt hopes to run a network of services across Sussex.

He wants the co-operative company to be carbon-neutral and to run vehicles on biodiesel.