Passengers have been checking out buses which will form part of a £29 million transport scheme for the Crawley area.

Fastway, which is due to begin in April next year, will transform sections of the town's road network.

It is hoped the scheme will ferry people from the suburbs to the town centre in less than 15 minutes by bypassing congestion on the roads.

Buses will run every ten minutes for up to 20 hours a day, encouraging more people to use public transport instead of their cars.

Crawley councillor Doug Murdoch said: "People will be sitting in their cars and they will see this bus go whizzing by and they will wonder why they are not on it."

Promoters said Fastway was an "intelligent" transport system featuring automated vehicle tracking, dedicated bus lanes and priority at traffic lights.

Work to alter the roads and junctions around Crawley will cost £26 million and a further £3 million is to be spent on the new buses.

There were four different buses for potential passengers to look at.

Mother Sammy-Jo Campbell, of Crawley, said: "I would definitely use a bus that allowed me to get on and off more easily.

"I have three children and they would be thrilled if they didn't have to walk everywhere."

Pupils from Thomas Bennett Community College also looked over the buses.

Wheelchair user Bill Irving, of Crawley, said: "Getting on and off the Fastway bus will be so much easier with the level boarding at stops."

The Fastway system is being funded by Government, West Sussex County Council, Crawley Borough Council, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, BAA Gatwick, Metrobus and Go-Ahead.

Coun Murdoch said the first service would run from Bewbush to Broadfield to Southgate and then into the town centre.