A VEHICLE firm has secured a multi-million pound contract to supply the Rolls Royce of coaches.

David Fishwick Vehicles Sales has become only the third dealership in Britain to sell Optare coaches.

And the firm based in Byron Road, Colne, has already placed a £1million deal for 10 vehicles.

Owner David Fishwick said the deal meant the company would supply the vehicles across the north of England and Scotland.

He said: "There are only three dealerships in the country and we are one of them.

"We have been after the franchise for years but we have had to build our own firm up.

"We have ordered 10 coaches at £100,000 a piece and it will become a multi million operation.

"These coaches are what people aspire to.

"People who drive a car aspire to own a Rolls Royce and coach drivers aspire to own one of these.

"This is like a Rolls Royce dealership coming to Colne."

The firm was set up in 2002 and employs 26 people in Colne.

It is also a sponsor of Burnley FC, non-league Colne FC and backs several community-based teams.

The contract comes just months after David Fishwick invested £4million in the purchase of 300 minibuses, which was the largest ever minibus deal in the country.

The Optare coaches are designed to a high specification and have a chassis made by Mercedes Benz.

The cheapest 16 seat coach costs £70,000 and a 65-seat double decker vehicle costs £250,000.

The 10 vehicles will be built at Optare's base in northern Spain and will take 12 weeks to complete.