London gets designer buses

Sadie Frost and her fashion partner Jemima French today launched London Fashion Week by unveiling a No 24 bus decorated with their own exclusive design.

The Frost French bus is emblazoned with pink and purple paisley and the image of a small girl leaping through puddles.

Frost said: "She's spirited and full of sunshine - it's lovely for us to imagine that our bus will be putting a smile on Londoners' faces as they make their way to work in the September rain."

She also offered a sneak preview of their upcoming catwalk show, saying: "It's going to be more glamorous and more grown-up than anything we've done before." Also at the Trafalgar Square launch was Ben de Lisi, whose No176 from Oxford Circus to Penge is wrapped with pastel-coloured embroidered flowers.

He said: "It's the most bizarre thing I've ever had to design. I'd love to have the bus for a week so I can strut around town - my mum would be delighted."

Other couturiers who have customised their own London buses are Betty Jackson, Eley Kishimoto, Tata-Naka, Robert Cary-Williams, Alice Temperley, Tristan Webber and Julien Macdonald.

London Fashion Week runs from Sunday to 23 September. and presents both internationally established and debutante designers.