A new fleet of double deckers will be keeping up a tradition in Brighton and Hove by carrying the name of a well-known locally-linked personality.

Each vehicle will bear the name of a person who made a significant contribution to life in the city, nominated by customers.

Sir Charles Aubrey Smith, who was born in Hove, played cricket for Cambridge University, Sussex and England.

He is one of 18 people whose names will be emblazoned on the new fleet purchased by the Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach company at a cost of £2.75 million.

They feature the latest in environmentally-friendly exhaust emissions, low floors for wheelchairs and buggies as well as CCTV for security.

Managing director Roger French said: "The tradition of naming new buses after deceased people who made a significant contribution to the city in their lifetime has continued."

The new names are:

WILLIAM ATTREE: A solicitor who bought and developed Queen's Park and the Manor of Atlingworth in the late 18th Century.

ENID BAGNOLD: A writer who lived in Rottingdean. Among her books was National Velvet. She became Lady Jones in 1920.

AUBREY BEARDLSEY: One of the most famous Art Nouveau artists who was born in Brighton.

SIR EDWARD BURNE-JONES: An important pre Raphaelite painter who lived for many years in Rottingdean. Several of his stained glass windows are in Brighton and Rottingdean churches.

ELLEN NYE CHART: An actress, she arrived in Brighton in 1865 to join the company of Henry Chart, actor, manager and owner of the Theatre Royal. On the death of her husband, she took over management of the theatre and her ghost is said to haunt it still.

TOMMY FARR: The British heavyweight had a famous fight with Joe Louis and lived for many years in Shoreham. He also ran the Royal Standard pub in Queen's Road, Brighton.

GEORGE HOLE: He was a manufacturer of telescopes and special lenses. His largest telescope was installed in his garden at Sunninghill Avenue.

ALBERT KETELBY: The prolific composer wrote In a Monastery Garden and In a Persian Market. He was leader of the West Pier Orchestra in the Twenties.

GIDEON MANTELL: The doctor who lived at Old Steine was a geologist who had a well known museum in his house. He discovered teeth in stones from Cuckfield which led to the realisation that dinosaurs had existed.

ALAN MELVILLE: The author, playwright and lyricist became a television personality and writer in the Sixties. He lived in Brighton from 1951 until his death in 1983.

DR CLIFFORD MUSGRAVE: As director of the Royal Pavilion, he oversaw its interior restoration after the Second World War.

RAY NOBLE: The Brighton-born bandleader also worked for Glenn Miller. He wrote swing band classics such as Goodnight Sweetheart and The Very Thought Of You.

DOUGLAS REEVE: The much-loved Dome organist for many years, he became manager of the building and then assistant resort director.

JOHN SAXBY: A pioneer of railway signalling, he lived in Brighton. Saxby and John Farmer were instrumental in introducing the interlocking of signals and points whereby one could not be operated independently of the other.

DANNY SHELDON: The charismatic councillor became a memorable mayor of Brighton 30 years ago.

CHARLIE WEBB: He played for Brighton and Hove Albion, scoring 79 goals in 275 matches and later kept the club going almost single-handedly during the Second World War.

ALLEN WEST: He founded the electrical engineering company bearing his name which became the largest employer in Brighton in the Fifties.