Formula One race technology to power buses in Oxford

The new fleet will link Oxford Brookes University sites and student halls to the city centre

Technology developed by a Formula One team will help to power a new fleet of Oxford buses.

The hybrid "Gyrodrive" system, which was developed by the Williams team, will reduce fuel consumption and emissions, Oxford Bus Company says.

Fourteen new buses and six others will be fitted with the technology in a £3.7m investment by the firm.

Operations director Phil Southall said the new buses would be the first "Gyrodrive hybrids" to go into service.

The system, now owned by engineering firm GKN, uses a high-speed flywheel made of carbon fibre to store the energy generated by a bus as it brakes.

This energy is then used to power an electric motor, which helps accelerate the bus back up to speed.

The new fleet is for the bus company's BrookesBus network, which links all Oxford Brookes University sites and student halls to the city centre