THEY wheezed and groaned their way around Winchester for the first time in a year - the elderly buses from the city's past.

More than a dozens veterans of public transport of bygone days trundled around the district in the annual Winchester Buses Running Day on January 1.

The free event attracted hundreds of bus enthusiasts to celebrate the King Alfred Bus Company that operated from 1920 to 1973.

Organised by the charity the Friends of King Alfred Buses, it maintains more than a dozen old buses and coaches.

Throughout the day buses ran services around the city and district from stops at the Bus Station and The Broadway, under the gaze of the statue of King Alfred.

The buses were mainly from long-gone manufacturers such as Leyland, Bristol and AEC and evoked an era of leather seats, wooden flowers, chrome and conductors in uniform with the little ticket machines slung around their necks.

A bazaar with stalls selling books, photos, models and transport memorabilia was held in the Guildhall and bus station waiting room.

Services were run to other attractions in the Winchester that were open on New Year's Day including Twyford Waterworks, St Cross Hospital, the Watercress Line and Hockley Mill.