A DOUBLE-decker bus once owned by mix master Liam Howlett, of The Prodigy, is being paraded around Pendle after being snapped up by a Nelson firm.

The iconic red London Routemaster spent a number of years in the dance music legend’s garden after being bought for him by his wife, former All Saints singer Natalie Appleton.

She paid a reputed £2,000 for the bus from a second-hand dealership as a surprise birthday present.

The veteran vehicle was often used to host the multi-award winning and chart topping band’s meetings.

But it is now being used by Daisy Communications, based in Lindred Road, as part of its recruitment and promotional campaigns.

The firm bought the bus from the Ensign dealership, in Essex, after the celebrity couple sold it back to its former owners earlier this year.

CEO Matthew Riley has always wanted to own one of the classic buses and instructed his workforce to find him one.

A few telephone calls led them to Steve Newman, of Ensign, who had just bought the bus back from the pop stars.

They now intend to invest time and money in renewing the 1966 vehicle to its former splendour by May.

Chief operating officer Gareth Kirkwood said: “The sight of the London bus pulling onto the car park created a real stir about the place.

"And, needless to say, the discovery that the bus was previously owned by a celebrity created a buzz around the office.

“The idea is to use the bus for promotions, corporate hospitality and product launches.

"We are looking to transform the downstairs into an interview/ promotional area and the upstairs into a corporate lounge area and really distinguish ourselves from the competition.”

Fiona Ritchie, who sourced the bus, said: “It has been a bit of mine-field finding out what the bus needs to be classed as in terms of licensing/ taxing and insurance, but it has been fun to learn about.

“Fortunately there has been no trouble with the bus being driven after we discovered a member of the Daisy team, Kate Targett, holds a bus licence.

"She has been indispensable, manoeuvring the London bus to various locations.”