A CELEBRATION at the Pump House Museum next month marks the anniversary of the creation of the world's first standardised bus, which was built in Walthamstow, CARL BROWN found out more.

THE arguments over the downfall of the Routemaster bus continue to rage, but an earlier type of bus produced in Walthamstow was the original vehicle used by thousands of Londoners.

The first of the famous B-type buses, which were used by commuters and as makeshift troop-carriers in the First World War, were produced at a factory in Hookers Road, Walthamstow. Lindsay Collier, Pump House Museum director, said: "The creation of the B type bus laid the foundation for the standardised buses we know today.

"We should be proud of these industrial links, which are of global importance."

Nowadays we are used to seeing mass-produced, standardised buses on the streets, but in the early days of motorised public transport, this was not the case.

In fact it was not until 1905 that stock market trader Arthur Salisbury-Jones had an idea to start a large-scale bus company to serve London's commuters.

Mr Salisbury-Jones launched the London Motor Omnibus Company (LMOC), and was so successful other companies opened up in the capital The rapid expansion of London's transport system after the turn of the century led to vehicles being purchased from a variety of sources, and the lack of standardisation led to problems with vehicle safety and reliability, with nearly 2,500 accidents in 1906 alone.

By 1907 Mr Salisbury had a fleet of more than 300 passenger buses and opened a new 30,000 sq ft factory in Hookers Road, which doubled in size within a year.

Because of financial difficulties, LMOC merged with other companies to form the London General Omnibus Company (LGOC), paving the way for the first standardised bus.

In 1910 the first B type, designed to be reliable and safe, was built and two years later the business was taken over by the Associated Equipment Company (AEC), the bus manufacturing arm of Underground Electric Railways Company.

Many B types went to France during the Great War and never came back. Many buses and lorries continued to be produced at Walthamstow until 1927, when AEC moved the factory to a larger site in Southall, Middlesex.

The Walthamstow site continued to be used to produce tractors, but very little of the original factory survives today, as an engineering firm stands on the site of the historic factory.

A celebration of the B type centenary will be be held at the Lea Valley Experience (Pump House Museum) in South Access Road, Walthamstow on May 23.

A variety of AEC buses, as well as a B type bus replica and a replica of one of the earliest steam road vehicles will be on display.

The celebration will take place btween 11am and 4pm, admission is £4 (£2 concession), visit www.leavalleyexperience.co.uk for more information.