SWINDON holidaymakers will be travelling in style this summer with the launch of the £250,000 gold service coach by Bakers Dolphin.

The gold-liveried Volvo is currently being put through its paces with specialist driver training and test runs, and has started picking up in Wiltshire.

It will be used on longer journeys and its first trip will see Bakers Dolphin customers whisked in comfort on a Hebridean Adventure in Scotland.

It has room for 36 passengers, instead of the usual 52 on a standard coach.

Tim Newcombe, managing director of Bakers Dolphin, said: "The company has been providing coach tours since it purchased its first charabanc in 1923.

"Before that we provided excursions for Weston people by pony and trap.

"This is the ultimate luxury vehicle and we believe it brings coach tour travel into the 21st century and means that customers will arrive at their holiday destination fresh and raring to go.

The gold service coach will tour the UK and Scotland and has European trips to Bavaria, France, Switzerland, Austria, Prague and Ireland planned.