A man has been recognised for his services to the bus industry.

Ben Colson received an award for his contributions to the industry for 45 years up until his retirement last year.

In 1996, he and a key business partner brought a small West Norfolk coach company with three buses called Norfolk Green.

Over the next 18 years, they grew the business steadily until it operated over 70 buses over areas of north and west Norfolk, north Cambridgeshire and south Lincolnshire.

After a period of ill-health Ben and his colleagues sold the company to Stagecoach last year.

Mr Colson said: 'We set up in what was really a quite unpromising area of West Norfolk with very few people, but lots of beautiful wide open spaces and sandy beaches.

'We really developed the company out of nothing and we did so because of very strong community involvement. We were really part of the local community and that is really what made us incredibly successful.'

Since retiring Ben has remained active in the industry, and was appointed as the chairman of the Association of Local Bus Managers.