A BIO-BUS pilot that encourages passengers to swap old cooking oil for cheap travel is being extended.

Stagecoach will run the scheme for another six months after collecting more than 21 tonnes of used cooking oil to help run eight buses in Kilmarnock.

The firm says the pilot has helped cut CO2 emissions from the single-decker Bio-buses, which operate on the Stewarton to Darvel route, by around 80%.

Sam Greer, managing director of Stagecoach West Scotland, said: "The Bio-bus project has captured the imagination of local people and the community has really got behind the scheme.

"We have delivered a truly sustainable partnership solution to the challenge of climate change.

"The local community, a forward-thinking transport operator, the fuel industry and local government are all working together to protect the environment.

"More than 600,000 passengers have used the Bio-bus service, helping to cut their own carbon footprint, and we are a long way toward reaching our goal of running a 100% carbon neutral service.

"We are delighted to extend the project for a further six months to bring further environmental benefits to the local community as we monitor the potential to roll the 100% biofuel out to other parts of our UK operations."

Stagecoach issued 5000 free containers to householders on the Service 1 route to allow them to recycle their used cooking oil.

This oil was taken to East Ayrshire Council's recycling plant at Western Road.

For each visit to the recycling centre with cooking oil, passengers were given a 20p discount voucher off Stagecoach travel.