THEY have a reputation for being where the kids too cool for school wiped their feet.

But an innovative seat design on Thamesdown’s Transport’s new fleet of buses aims to ban forever anti-social behaviour from the back of the bus.

The long horseshoe-like seat snakes around the rear of the bus company’s 13 new vehicles.

Called “social seating”, the padded bench seat is designed to get commuters talking to one another.

The seats have created quite a stir, even featuring on the BBC’s flagship radio news show the Today programme.

Thamesdown Transport’s managing director Andrew Wickham said: “For some time we have been looking at this innovative seating layout because it provides a comfortable space for friends and family to travel together.

“This inventive horseshoe arrangement means a lounge-type environment for our customers.”

Bus users can find the new vehicles on the Service 5, between Park North and the Orbital Shopping centre in Haydon Wick.

Yesterday, users taking one of the new buses were generally enthusiastic about the revamped seating.

Landscape gardener Kyle Mcguire, 25, of Haydon Wick, said: “It’s pretty funky.”

Dad-and-son Mark and Ronnie Perrin also approved of the new seating.

Mark, 43, of Moredon, said: “It’s a good idea. I think it will encourage people to talk to other people.”

However, mum-of-two Tanya Crook was less sure.

The 35-year-old from Rodbourne said: “I prefer to sit on my own. If there was a stranger sat there I’d sit somewhere else.”

Carer Brenda Lewis, 59, of Park South, said the seats reminded her of buses “back in the day”.

“It’s only going back to what we used to have,” she said.

Callie Bewley, 17, of Haydon Wick, said: “The seats are different, although I don’t think it will work. Everyone’s on their phones or not looking at each other.”

And everyone agreed that there was one essential quality in a bus: Punctuality.

A total of 13 new buses have been introduced to Swindon by Thamesdown Transport, who say they have invested £2m in the new vehicles.

The new buses, built by British firm Alexander Dennis, are more environmentally friendly. They also feature free wi-fi internet and USB power sockets for charging mobile phones.

Andrew said: “Our customers here were very clear about the enhancements they wanted to see on buses in and around Swindon, and we have listened to them.”

For more details, visit: www.swindonbus.co.uk.