Transport Minister John Spellar officially opened the flagship £12 million Manchester Road bus scheme today and declared Bradford was leading the way with public transport.

The Minister gave his seal of approval to the new guided bus route, which includes novel 'talking' bus shelters, calling the innovative project a blueprint for the future.

Mr Spellar took a trip on a bus which is just one of six in the world to run on a central route in the middle of the road.

He said he was pleased to see Bradford forging ahead with practical solutions to transport problems.

"The scheme could be suitable for many areas of the country. Bradford will be an interesting pilot to see if what is happening here can lead the way on a national scheme," he said.

"Here it deals with a very real problem of significant traffic congestion and will also encourage park and ride schemes, which can only benefit the community."

As the bus pulled up to the stop at St Stephen's Road, the colour activated voice giggled and gave a comment of "It's nice" before reverting back to soothing music.

Mr Spellar said the two speaking shelters, which are the only ones in the world and also have heated seats, could be an incentive to encourage people out of their cars and onto the buses.

Designer Andrew Shoben, of London-based Greyworld, who said the six shelters had cost around £200,000, auditioned actresses to be the voice of the two Super Shelters.

"The sound is generated by colours of clothing or traffic. The speaker has a mood which she sometimes expresses in words and sometimes in music, depending on the time of day."

Paul Brookes, director of Bradford's Capital of Culture campaign, said the creativity provided a visual gateway on one of the major routes into the city.

"Bradford is trying to be different and has developed what are some prototype designs which I hope can inspire other schemes in the district as well as encourage people to leave their cars behind."

"One of our themes is to be a city of light, colour and water and the bus stops are an example of that theme."

Bradford Lord Mayor Ghazanfer Khaliq welcomed the scheme and warned vandals to stay away.

"I would appeal to people to take care of the scheme which is good news for Bradford and in particular will get rid of congestion on a busy road."

Chairman of West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority, Councillor Mick Lyons, said it was a far cry from the old image of buses spilling out fumes.