A CONVOY of iconic Royal Blue coaches, once deluxe travel for long journeys, passed through Okehampton last weekend as 15 vintage vehicles revisited former routes through the county.

The annual run, organised by the Thames Valley and Great Western Omnibus Trust, uses original timetables and drivers' instructions faithfully to recreate one of the original Royal Blue bus routes.

Royal Blue Coach Services was a coach operator in the South West of England from 1880 to 1986.

The company purchased its first motor charabanc in 1913 and they rapidly replaced the horse-drawn coaches. It was the leading long distance coach service in the region until the regional name was dropped in 1986 by National Express.

The coach journey started in High Wycombe on Friday, June 29, passing through a number of towns and cities along the way.

Seven coaches visited Okehampton as part of the old A30 route, via Lewdown and Bridestowe into the town.

The trip continued up the old A30 through Sticklepath, Whiddon Down and Tedburn St Mary before arriving back in Exeter.