A NEW way of providing bus passengers in the region with travel information is in line for a national innovation award.

Roadsider timetable units, which were developed to provide timetable information at bus stops, have been tested in Hartlepool, Stockton and Redcar.

The units are designed to fit around bus stops and have been provided free to the local authorities involved in the trial.

The units supply information on connecting routes, 24-hour guidance, and maps to make travelling easier for people in the North-East. Any graffiti is removed on a weekly basis.

Adbus, of Harrogate, which designed the units, has given businesses a chance to advertise and has provided space for council information to be passed on to passengers free of charge.

The Roadsiders have won Adbus a nomination for the Innovation Award at the Bus Industry Awards, in London, later this month.

Adbus development manager Paul McLaughlin said: "Roadsiders are breathing new life into bus travel in other areas of the country by providing passengers with the information they need to plan their journeys.

"We are delighted that we have been nominated for this prestigious award."