A GROUP is urging people to get on board with a project to raise more than £35,000 to complete the restoration of an historic 1950s Bradford trolleybus.

The Bradford 758 double deck vehicle was built in 1950 and first used by the public a year later.

It was the last rear-entrance, open platform trolleybus to operate, not only in Bradford, but also the UK before it was taken out of service in March 1972.

Now, members of the Bradford Trolleybus Association charity are restoring the last remaining 758 bus to its former glory.

The project began earlier this year and has already seen the front of the vehicle re-panelled, painted blue and window pieces replaced.

It is estimated the restoration project will cost an estimated total of £60,000, with £35,000 of the work still to take place.

The buses' seats still need to be replaced and other electric work on the vehicle is awaiting completion.

The restoration work is being carried out at Keighley Bus Museum.

It is hoped the work will be completed at the end of 2015. The fully-restored vehicle will then return to The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft in Doncaster.

There, it will be fully functioned and used to transport visitors around the attraction.

The 15ft high bus originally seated 56 passengers, but its capacity was later increased to 59.

There were seven sister vehicles and they were numbered from 752 to 759.

This brought a total fleet of 20 BUTs (British United Traction Limited) vehicles as the eight new vehicles joined an earlier batch of 12.

The 758 was bought for preservation in June 1972 by Bradford Trolleybus Association, which has commissioned the full restoration of the vehicle back to operating condition.

The 758 was the first public service vehicle in transport history to be fitted with flashing traffic indicators in May 1952.

Gary Wilkinson, chairman of Bradford Trolleybus Association, said: "The trolleybus needs to be saved.

"It's a unique vehicle. That's why we need to do this. The restoration project has been going on for 15 years now.

"There is at least a year's worth of work to go on the restoration.

"We will probably need at least £35,000 more to get it going.

"We are also looking at applying for a lottery grant to help with the restoration work.

"We want it back and running at Sandtoft Museum."

The Bradford Trolleybus Association meets on the second Friday of every month at the Midland Hotel, Bradford at 7.30pm. Admission costs £4 for non-members, £3 for members.

To make a donation, email Mr Wilkinson at g.d.wilkinson@btinternet.com.