A CAMPAIGN to raise funds for an electric bus has smashed its target within a few weeks.

The Big Lemon has raised £160,000 from the local community, overshooting its target by £60,000 and putting it on course to buy two buses.

It means zero-emission electric buses could be running in Brighton and Hove this year.

Tom Druitt, managing director of The Big Lemon CIC, which already runs buses on waste cooking oil, said he was incredibly excited at that prospect.

He added: "We are all humbled by the level of support we have received from the public. Last year was our best year yet and this year is already shaping up to be even better.

"We would like to thank everyone who has supported us with our fundraising efforts.

"The thought of running two electric buses in the city is very exciting indeed.

"We call on members of the public who might be interested to get in touch and help us improve air quality in Brighton and Hove.”

The money has been raised by selling two-year bonds of £100 each to members of the local community at an interest rate of six per year per year.

Mr Druitt said the firm’s fleet of cooking oil-fuelled buses had saved 900 tonnes of CO2 emissions since 2007.

Ryan Wrotny, Big Lemon bus driver, said: “I’m really looking forward to driving electric buses on our routes in Brighton and Hove.

"It’ll be an exciting development for us and help us offer a better service to our passengers.

"I’ve been with the company nearly eight years and seen a lot of developments but this is the best one yet."

Annie Sparks, environmental health manager with Brighton and Hove City Council, said it was "great news" that the company was to add electric buses to its fleet.

She added: "We’ve been working closely with bus operators in the city to encourage them to invest in cleaner technology and they have responded positively, which is helping to improve air quality as well as attracting external funding.”