A coach operator has insisted that Thetford's new £3.8m bus station will put the town's passengers in the fast lane as it prepares to open this weekend.

The five bay, 1,200sqm Thetford Bus Interchange in Minstergate will welcome its first services on Sunday after eight months of construction.

The project has seen off complaints from the public, conservation societies and the town council to reach conclusion.

A parish poll in 2011 even saw 81pc of voters object to the project.

But one of the interchange's main operators, Coach Services, say the new facility is a step forward.

Ray Crawford, Transport Manager for the Thetford-based company, said the new site would offer better access to drivers and more information to passengers.

'We want to see progress for the town and the service, and this interchange provides that. It's purpose-built for passengers and so much better for us,' he said.

Mr Crawford said concerns over difficult access to the site for coach drivers was unfounded, despite fears over negotiating a tight corner at the top of Minstergate.

'There shouldn't be a problem at all and by all accounts we know the buses can get in fine.

'In fact, access is much worse at the current site because of traffic issues and parking. Quite often people take up bays they are not supposed to and it means our drivers can't get in.

'The fact that the buses will be coming in on the right side of the passenger waiting areas means that people will able to see their bus coming in, and make it less likely to miss it as well,' he said.

A spokesman for Norfolk County Council confirmed the bus interchange is due to open on Sunday.

The Kier Group have carried out construction on the project, with NPS property acting as architects.

The project includes five bays, CCTV, bus shelters, electronic timetable information and new toilets. The toilets will not open until March 16.

An official opening event will take place on Tuesday morning.

Its opening will see use of the current bus station site on Bridge Street come to an end.

That site is earmarked for the new Riverside Leisure Development, a cinema operator for which was announced this week.