A 43-year-old Kent woman has been named as the best bus driver in Britain. Carol Brenchley, of High Street, Aylesford, is the first woman to receive the award.

Miss Brenchley, who has driven for Aylesford-based bus operator Nu-Venture for the past five years, said: "It's brilliant.

"It's nice to know that the passengers appreciate you enough to go out of their way to do something for you."

Miss Brenchley was nominated for the Welcome Aboard Awards, organised by the National Federation of Bus Users (NFBU), by some of the passengers on her route through Penenden Heath, Allington and Barming. A member of the NFBU then took a ride on the bus pretending to be a passenger.

"They judge you on how you treat people and your driving ability," Miss Brenchley said.

She became a bus driver after learning to drive a motor home seven years ago.

She said: "I really enjoyed it and gave up what I was doing, making hand-made paper products."

Miss Brenchley received the awards for winning bus driver of a smaller company and overall winning bus driver at a ceremony in London.