Ref. 25624-10A BUS has been named after one of Swindon's twin towns.

The single-decker owned by Thamesdown Transport was officially named Torun City of Copernicus at the Steam Museum.

Former Mayor Councillor Stan Pajak, who is of Polish descent, was one of the prime movers behind the twinning initiative.

He said: "What a wonderful way to celebrate the agreement we have formed with Torun. This is a unique arrangement for Poland, as they do not appear to name buses in the way that we do in Swindon.

"Torun is being commemorated by its name on the bus but it is the birthplace of Nicholas Copernicus the man who revolutionised our thinking about the universe."

Visitors from Torun were also at the naming ceremony.

John Owen, managing director of Thamesdown Transport said: "The local buses have been named after railway engines built in Swindon works for a number of years, and this has created great interest.

"Recently we have extended this to include naming buses Salzgitter, Ocotal and Pontorson to commemorate the established twinning links with people from those towns in Germany, Nicaragua and France respectively."