A Northern Ireland bus builder has announced that it has won an order worth over £125m (€155m) to provide vehicles to the world's largest bus operator, FirstGroup.

Wrightbus, based in Ballymena, Co Antrim, celebrated what it said was the largest order in its history.

Wrightbus said it faced significant competition from a number of manufacturers throughout the world and had to meet FirstGroup's exacting technical and commercial requirements. The win reinforces the Northern Ireland company's position as a world-leading bus supplier.

Announcing the contract in Belfast yesterday, Wright Group Managing Director, Mark Nodder said: "This order shows FirstGroup's commitment to investing in programmes geared to encouraging the public to switch from cars to public transport, which will reduce both congestion and damage to the environment.

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"We are pleased to be FirstGroup's partner of choice and this is an excellent endorsement of Wrightbus as a designer and manufacturer of a range of vehicles that incorporate innovative and advanced technology for both drivers and passengers," he said.

The order is the biggest annual investment that the FirstGroup's coach and bus fleet has ever placed and has confirmed Wrightbus' position as the supplier of choice for FirstGroup.

Although the bulk of the order will be built on Volvo chassis, it also includes nine new Wrightbus double-decker buses, five of which are hybrids. The high specification hybrid vehicles were a component part of the order and Wrightbus lead the field in the innovative development of buses that use a combination of diesel and electric power to minimise pollution.

Wrightbus will begin work immediately on the multi-year contract.

(VB/JM)