A bus company has partnered with a telephone support line to help those travelling alone.

First Bus has teamed up with Strut Safe, a volunteer-operated telephone support line that offers a friendly voice to those travelling or walking home solo.

As part of the partnership, First Bus in West Yorkshire will display Strut Safe’s contact number on the side of a double-decker bus in the Leeds area.

The number will also be shown on digital screens and posters on more than 250 buses in the region, including in Bradford, Halifax, and Huddersfield.

The details will also feature on the First Bus app and social media channels, and will be shared with First Bus’s existing customer database.

Strut Safe telephone lines are open on Fridays and Saturdays between 7pm and 3am, and on Sundays from 7pm to 1am, offering non-judgmental support over the phone to anyone walking or travelling home.

Both First Bus and Strut Safe are committed to ensuring everyone’s safety, and with additional funding from First Bus, Strut Safe will soon be able to extend its hours to include Thursday evenings too, according to a spokesperson.

First Bus colleagues are also being made aware of how the service can help, reflecting the company’s commitment to their employees’ wellbeing and creating more ambassadors for the service.

Dee Harrison MBE, head of health and safety at First Bus, said: “At First Bus we are passionate about making a difference for our customers.

“The care we have for our passengers doesn’t stop when they step off the bus, and our new partnership with Strut Safe demonstrates our commitment to our customers.

“By working with Strut Safe, we aim to raise awareness of this fantastic organisation as well as offer our customers the chance to feel supported on every step of their journey.”

Rho Chung, director of communications at Strut Safe, said: “We are so excited to be partnering with First Bus, making our service accessible to more people across the country and helping them feel safe from bus door to front door.

“The generous donation from First Bus means we can extend our opening hours to Thursday evenings in the near future, allowing us to provide more reassurance to passengers in need during their travels.”

Strut Safe can be contacted on 0333 335 0026.