A new book has been published to examine the history of the Oxford Bus Company and celebrate the firm's first 125 years.

The Oxford Bus Company - The first 125 years by Phil Ashworth looks at how the changing lives of its passengers prompted big changes in the buses they used.

It also details how the company and customers coped with two world wars, and how the rise in car ownership challenged its existence.

The book, commissioned by the company, also explains how the fear of a city choked with cars gave birth to dynamic "green" buses and a pioneering park-and-ride system.

Mr Ashworth, the firm's media officer, said the book could be read as a social history, as the story of a major employer in the city or, through the detailed picture captions, as a book for bus lovers too.

He said: "It's been a wonderful opportunity to research such an interesting part of Oxford's history.

"Some of the information I found in the company's own archives, and I also got some help from Nick Taylor, who is chairman of the Oxford Bus Museum and the firm's longest serving member of staff.

"It's not just a look at the bus company but a slice of Oxford's social history and the challenges that the whole of the community faced at times.

"I couldn't have written the book without the help of the enthusiastic team at the museum, who helped with the pictures and checked that the historic vehicle details were correct."

Earlier this month, the company celebrated its 125th birthday by painting two of its buses in historic liveries and officially opening Cowley House, the firm's headquarters for the past two years.

Copies of the book can be bought from the Oxford Bus Company, Cowley House, Watlington Rd, Oxford OX4 6GA. The cost is £5.95 including postage.

Cheques should be made payable to Oxford Bus Company.