WINCHESTER City Councillors visited the Friends of King Alfred Buses workshops in the city centre as a prelude to the Heritage Open Day on Sunday, September 14.

They saw a few of the group's 13 vintage buses being maintained and restored and took a ride on a 1964 AEC double decker.

One of the Friends, Ruth Andrews described the work that she is co-ordinating in rebuilding a rare 1950 Leyland Olympic. This bus was repatriated from Ireland to its home city some years ago, before being stripped down to a skeleton for rebuilding.

Chairman of the Friends, Peter Murnaghan welcomed the Councillors, following a similar visit by council leader George Beckett a short while ago.

Mr Murnaghan described the repair and ongoing maintenance that is carried out in the old bus garage, together with the deep restoration on buses such as the Olympic.

"This is a very well equipped depot for this type of work and we will be sorry when we have to leave, as a result of the Silverhill redevelopment. We have been searching in a wide area of southern Hampshire for suitable alternative premises, but so far without success," he said.

Councillor Patricia Stallard, Executive Member for Heritage, said: "This collection is an important part of Winchester's recent history. We have been impressed with what we have seen and hope that this bus fleet can remain in Winchester. We will do what we can to help the Friends."

The bus workshops will be open to the public during the Heritage Open Day on September 14, when volunteers will demonstrate the work needed to keep the old King Alfred bus fleet in a safe, roadworthy condition for its New Year Running Days.

Tours on open day will start with a free bus ride from St John's House in the Broadway at 11am, noon, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm, ending up at the workshops for a guided tour. In keeping with the Heritage open days, there will be no charge for these tours.