PASSENGERS are invited to hop on board and take a bus trip down memory lane on Saturday with comic Dave Spikey as he recounts memories of his hometown.

Two special vintage double-decker Bolton buses will be pulling into Moor Lane bus station on Saturday morning for people to jump on and relive the golden days of bus travel as part of a public art event — during which they can enjoy listening to personal memories and local tales, old and new, from local celebrities, including the Bolton comedian.

The 1956 Leyland Titan PD2/12 has been loaned from the Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester, and will be familiar with its distinguished Bolton livery, traditional interior and even an honesty box on the platform for uncollected fares.

Alongside it will be the 1971 "jumbo" PDR2 Atlantean from the Bolton Bus Preservation Group, which, after long and faithful service in Bolton, was retained for preservation by the group in 1985.

It will pull in at 10am and will be parked between the bus station and Bolton Market until 4pm.

Final year fine art student Steph Shipley said: “We are so fortunate to have the support of the Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester and the Bolton Bus Preservation Group in providing the buses for our event.

"We’re inviting everyone to clamber on board and take a trip down memory lane — top deck, back seat or standing room only, we’re sure the buses will bring back many memories of travelling by bus in and around Bolton that we’d like to gather as inspiration for our art work.

"Experienced marshals will also be on hand to answer questions about the vehicles from any bus enthusiasts.”

The art project is entitled Bolton Smiles and will celebrate the Bolton Interchange development.

Shoppers can also jump aboard a walking bus made up of school children, community groups and university students, which will leave at 11am, starting from the elephants in Newport Street, before reaching its destination, where there will be food, drink and entertainment.

The project is an attempt by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to involve the local community in the Bolton interchange scheme.

The organisation says it is also encouraging the employment of apprentices and mentoring opportunities for local people.

Cllr Andrew Fender, chairman of the TfGM committee, said: “Bolton interchange will be a great local community asset and an important architectural gateway for the area when it opens in 2016.

"For people living and working in Bolton it will provide public transport links to jobs, education and leisure.

“Anyone who has visited Bolton town centre recently can see that work has started on the new interchange. It will create a better, brighter place to begin and end journeys.”

The new interchange will replace the existing Moor Lane bus station.

Visit isoundcloud.com/official-tfgm/sets/bolton-smiles to listen to a preview featuring memories from Phoenix Nights's Dave Spikey, and Sheila Dibnah, Bernard Wrigley and Kath Ribgy, with the audio trail going live on Saturday.