Ribble Motor Services emerged from humble beginnings but expanded rapidly through the 1920s and 1930s before becoming part of the British Electric Traction group (BET) in 1942 and being nationalised in 1969. Over the years, the fleet expanded to over 1,200 buses and coaches based at 30 garages across a vast operating area stretching from Carlisle to Merseyside. The company weathered nationalisation but was snapped up by Stagecoach in 1989 following deregulation.

This nostalgic collection of rare and previously unpublished images celebrates the fleet of this iconic and much-loved company.

Mike Rhodes hails from Preston and became interested in both road and rail transport from an early age. He has published several books and has been photographing buses since 1974.