OH it's a great life on the buses - went the theme tune to the movie adaptation of the hit Seventies sitcom.

It's definitely true on Thamesdown Transport thanks to a new employee.

Roly Middleton is now boarding lunchtime buses to make sure they stay spick and span.

Roly, who has spent six years with the company, has been made a lunchtime litter picker and will be on hand to pick up any rubbish dropped by careless passengers.

He volunteered for the post when it was advertised last year.

Roly said: "I really like the idea of tackling this problem which can give people a bad impression of using the buses. It's all about keeping the public on our side and ensuring a good service."

Roly thinks that the majority of people who use the buses do not drop their litter and the amount of rubbish is "down to a small minority".

According to Roly the cleanest customers are not exactly who you would expect.

"You'd be surprised but the student buses are usually very clean."

Paul Jenkins, Thamesdown's managing director, explained the thinking behind the scheme.

He said: "Our buses are swept out each night, but by picking up the worst of the litter in the middle of the day this should make more pleasant travelling conditions for people going home in the afternoon.

"We would prefer that passengers disposed of their litter off our buses.

"But it is a fact of life that litter is being left behind and we want to improve the quality of the journey experience for our passengers."

Roly hopes that his presence on the buses will help discourage people who choose to drop litter.

"I'd ask people to be aware of others and take their litter away with them. There is always a bin on the bus, which is mainly for used tickets, but we would rather passengers used that for their rubbish than the floor."