BRIGHTON and Hove Buses has been voted the best bus company in the country.

The city’s biggest bus operator beat off stiff competition from around the UK to pick up the Bus Operator of the Year accolade at the National Transport Awards.

Managing director Martin Harris said: “This award is particularly pertinent right now as my colleagues have been working tirelessly to try to keep our services moving during two major city centre roadworks that have coincided and resulted in severe delays to our buses and a great deal of inconvenience to our customers.

“I’m privileged to work with incredibly talented, dedicated and hard-working people who do everything possible to deliver the best bus service in their power.

“The industry’s experts have honoured us with this award for everything we’ve achieved to date.

“We have the commitment, the experience and the skills to run a great bus service in the city.

“It’s time now to take the congestion in our city – and its direct role in polluting the air we breathe – seriously so we can deliver a consistently reliable and frequent bus service at any moment of any day. It’s what our customers want.”

Driver Phil Hadley was also nominated for an award.

He receives so many compliments from passengers that his colleagues joke they’re no longer counted, they’re weighed.

Special Constable Jamie Jackson is the product of a unique partnership between Sussex Police and Brighton and Hove Buses.

He patrols the buses looking after the welfare and safety of customers.

Brighton and Hove Buses has also just discovered it has made it to the finals in four categories of the industry’s UK Bus Awards.

The bus company is competing for the highest honour, Top City Operator,

Driver Phil Hadley is up for Top National Driver, and electrical engineer Ashley Burrows is competing for Unsung Hero.

The National Transport Awards were hosted by Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling MP and former Downing Street director of communications Alistair Campbell at a ceremony in London.