CITY-bound travellers are being told ‘witch’ way to turn after a new £3million fleet was unveiled to run between East Lancashire and Manchester.

Just days after the Lancashire Telegraph revealed there could be a six month delay to plans for a fast train service linking the two locations, public transport operators Transdev have launched 15 high-spec buses for their ‘Witch Way’ route.

Bus bosses even had a coven of ‘good’ witches at Nelson and Colne College yesterday to kickstart their campaign for the revamped X43 service, which will officially hit the roads today.

Nigel Eggleton, Transdev marketing director, said: “We felt that the time was right to rebrand our Witch Way service.

“We were keen to maintain the connection to local heritage through the story of the Pendle witches but as we upgraded our buses, we wanted to give our witch a modern makeover too.”

Free wi-fi is also being introduced for passengers aboard the service, which links Nelson, Burnley, Crawshawbooth, Rawtenstall and Manchester.

The operator is also launching an ‘app’ for iPhones and Android smartphones, so customers can track their next bus in ‘real time’, or check timetables, tickets and fares.

Today in Burnley there will be a fun day on the pedestrianised area near the junction of Manchester Road and St James Street, featuring spooky face-painting, pumpkin carving and a competition to see the musical Wicked at Manchester’s Palace Theatre.

Rail bosses have admitted that a lack of diesel trains will see the anticipated East Lancashire to Manchester Victoria route delayed until at least December 2014.