Save the Santa bus

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An urgent appeal has gone out to save an historic Hartlepool bus which faces going for scrap. Bristol RE OEF 77K spent 25 years in service with Hartlepool Transport and successor Stagecoach. Every year it donned a Christmas sleigh, being immortalised as ‘The Santa Bus.’

After withdrawal in the ECW-bodied bus was used as a mobile facility by East Yorkshire Age Concern, later passing to the Trent Valley Gliding Club as a clubhouse. The RE was then rescued and the Hartlepool Santa Bus Group set up. The owners of the site in Hartlepool where the bus has been stored said they regret that this could not continue and now the RE, which would be celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, faces being scrapped.
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