Gloucestershire travel company Bennetts Coaches has invested £3.9million into a fleet of more energy efficient vehicles.

It purchased the ten lower emissions coaches following funding from Lombard- the UK's largest asset finance provider.

The vehicles will be used to fulfil Bennetts contract with National Express as chosen provider of coaches for the Heathrow Airport route.

They are the latest Euro 6 engine models, providing better fuel efficiency than the eight-year-old models they replaced. They have also been customised to meet National Express requirements, featuring luxury amenities such as leather seats, charging ports, air conditioning, heating, and TVs.

Established in 1962, Bennetts Coaches is a third generation family-run company based on Eastern Avenue. Last year it built a second 15-bay depot at Triangle Park, off Metz Way, to house its National Express operation.

Gavin Bennett, managing director of Bennetts Coaches, said: "Making our fleet greener was a key deliverable for us, so to have Lombard's support was essential.

"This marks a significant step forward for Bennetts Coaches, reinforcing our position as a leader in sustainable transport solutions in Gloucestershire, while continuing to serve our wide-ranging customer base."

Part of the NatWest Group, Lombard has been funding renewable energy projects since 2010. It has a dedicated team providing specialist funding support for businesses looking to invest in renewable energy projects.

It supported Bennetts through deals worth a combined £3.9m to fund the new coaches.

Jason Holness, senior relationship manager at Lombard, said: "It's been great to support Bennetts Coaches to become a greener business through the introduction of these new energy-efficient coaches. 

"Lombard's funding is helping the business to thrive as well as improving its sustainability."