Winchester is traditionally a mecca for transport buffs on January 1st but there was an extra splash of colour among the restored vehicles taking part in this year's King Alfred Buses Running Day.

Over 70 members of the Worthy Winchester Hash House Harriers, all in little red dresses, hopped on a 40-year-old Bristol VR double-decker for the short trip to Alresford Road - the starting point for their run across hills and fields, following a trail of flour back to the King Alfred statue in The Broadway.

"It was a sea of red as we got on the bus," said Chris Bellwood, from Eastleigh, who's been a harrier for 10 years, describing them as a "serious drinking club with a running problem."

The bus-running day, now in its 20th year, attracted more than 40 vehicles - "heritage" and modern, offering free rides on nearly 30 routes to the hundreds of enthusiasts.

"The atmosphere was fantastic," said John Newton, a member of the Friends of King Alfred Buses for eight years and the event co-ordinator.

"Without the old buses and everyone's cooperation, it would be almost impossible to recreate an event like this anywhere else in the country."

As well as classic vehicles dating from the '30s, '40s and '50s, one vehicle showcased was very much in the "here and now" - a no-emission electric bus driven by Stagecoach MD, Andrew Dyer.

"We were trying to preserve the past but also look to the future of transport and a lot of people had never travelled on an electric bus," said John.

The single-decker later joined other vehicles at the Intech centre, Morn Hill, near Winchester, for a static display. In contrast, to the modern, driver Bill Tuttle arrived in The Broadway in a restored Aldershot and District Dennis Loline, 40 years after he was first behind the wheel of one of the vehicles.

Another big crowdpuller was Steve Morris's restored 1950 Leyland PD2 White Lady, from Taunton, which carried a full passenger load on each of its trips from the city to King's Somborne and Stockbridge.

John said the bus, with its distinctive red roof, took two years to restore and was the only one of its type in the UK.