Wheelchair users can now use public transport to get to the airport, thanks to the Oxford Bus Company.

The company, based in Watlington Road, has spent more than £2m on a fleet of 10 new coaches, which will travel between Gloucester Green and Heathrow.

The coaches are fitted with a special "Magic Floor" lift to raise users from the kerb level to the coach.

Wheelchair user Prof Peter Cooke, who lives in Abingdon, launched the new coaches on Wednesday.

He said: "I was very impressed. I travel abroad a great deal and the hoist works very well.

"The coach can only accommodate one disabled person per journey and it is probably best to book in advance. I doubt whether any bus company would have made this kind of investment 10 years ago."

The fleet of 10 Volvo/Plax- ton coaches is the first in the country to be fitted with environmentally-friendly EuroV engines.

Three months ago, the company became the first to introduce buses fitted with EuroV engines.

Louisa Weeks, the company's general manager, said: "We're proud to be the first operator in the country to be using EuroV buses and coaches, at a time when others are still thinking about EuroIV.

"Cutting through the technical talk, it means the vehicles are as green as they can possibly be and have the best emissions profile in the country.

"They are particularly good at cutting nitrogen oxide emissions, an important consideration in Oxford."

Prof Cooke is a professor in Automotive Industries Management at Nottingham Trent University.

Ms Weeks added: "Peter describes himself as a gentle activist on behalf of people with disability and we are delighted he has agreed to perform the ceremony and give his critical appraisal of the new coaches. "