YELLOW American-style school buses brought to Britain by a North Yorkshire firm could well reduce congestion on our roads, if they prove popular.

The buses are said to be the safest school buses in the world and are made by Bluebird - a firm belonging to Plaxton's of Scarborough.

Now, another of Plaxton's firms - Henleys - is bringing one of the famous buses to the UK and touring it around local education authorities, including North Yorkshire County Council and City of York Council.

The sturdy buses are not only reliable and safe, but the way they are operated in the States is said to reduce school-run congestion and appeal to parents worried about their children travelling alone.

Around 50 of the buses, seen in countless Hollywood movies and TV series, are already running in Staffordshire and Cheshire, and now America's second largest school bus operator, First Group, is looking to expand the 'Yellow Bus' throughout the UK.

Martin Helm, of First Group, said: "Research has shown that, if we introduced them in the UK they would receive massive support from parents and kids.

"We are talking to Plaxtons's in Scarborough and we were out in the States with them last week.

"The whole style of the Yellow Bus system is very safe. The vehicle itself is the safest public transport vehicle in the world.

"There are little compartments for children, so they wouldn't get thrown about in the event of an accident.

"Rollover bars run the whole length of the vehicle and there are all sorts of safety features on the outside. Strobe lighting ensures the bus is seen in fog, and there's a large bar that comes out at the front so the driver knows small children can't walk in front of him and out of his view. The U.S. system has one driver designated to one route, so the children get to know him or her. Often the driver is a parent of a schoolchild, working part-time behind the wheel."

No local authorities have expressed an interest in the buses yet, but David Quainton, Plaxton's sales and marketing director, said the pilot bus will be taken York and North Yorkshire councils.

He said: "There is already a lot of interest over here. One of our next steps is to carry out our tour of presentations in July using our specially brought-in bus.

"That will certainly include trips to authorities in and around North Yorkshire. If the demand is there we will be bringing many more yellow buses over."