'Reprieve' for Routemaster

The much-loved Routemaster bus could be reprieved, Ken Livingstone said today.

He said five bus companies were in talks with Transport for London about retaining the 50-year-old open-back vehicles.

They would run around the centre of the capital on tourist routes. And Londoners could have the right to hop on and off using Travelcards or bus passes.

Speaking on LBC radio today, the Mayor said: "We might end up with four or five routes. We're haggling with the bus companies because I'd like Londoners to be able to jump on with their bus passes. It's really annoying when you're waiting for a bus and one of these tourist buses goes past."

At present, there are just eight Routemaster routes left. The No12 - Dulwich to Notting Hill Gate - is due to convert to bendy buses on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Londoners are to be asked whether they want to stop the clocks going back an hour in the winter.

Mr Livingstone, who believes the capital should stay on British Summer Time, said he will commission an opinion poll.