WHEN 90-year-old Charlie Bullock dies, he plans to be dropped off at the crematorium onboard his Number 61 bus.

The retired bus driver bought the vehicle from his former bosses at United Automobile Services 26 years ago.

Everything is in place to ensure the pensioner, from Scarborough, North Yorkshire, is not late to his own funeral.

Driving the K5G Bristol will be old boss Jim Kirk.

Also accompanying the coffin will be conductor Ronnie Jackson and undertaker Martin Threppleton.

"I don't know when I'm going and I don't mind because I've had a good innings," said Mr Bullock, who started driving buses when he was 22.

Mr Bullock drove the 65-year-old double-decker, which was later converted into a break-down bus, between Scarborough, Darlington and Bishop Auckland.

"I pestered the company for two years to sell it to me - eventually I wrote a verse and sent it to them," he said.

"Two weeks later, I got a message from headquarters in Darlington saying I was able to buy her.

"I'll go to the crematorium as happy as anything on this - I love the old girl."

The pensioner has stipulated his funeral must take place at 3pm on a Friday. The day is special to him, being the day he separated from his wife, his cat died, his pet sheep died, he retired and he bought his pride and joy, the Bristol bus.

He has already chosen his coffin. It is fitted with bus handles and has a brass plate engraved with "for transfer to headquarters".

If he can get permission, the bus driver hopes to have his ashes scattered in his old bus depot in Scarborough. "Then I will get run over by a few buses and I will get trips all over," he said.