Two Oldham women have become Britain's first female Muslim bus-drivers.
Mubeen Shahid and Shahbana Hussain now join Nita Patel who became the first Asian female bus-driver in 1991.
The trio can now be found guiding Highway to Opportunities (H2O) specially adapted outreach buses through Oldham, enabling women to have the chance to learn English and apply for jobs.
The buses are fully equipped with a mini computer suite, class rooms and a crèche.
For Mubeen Shahid completing the course was an extra special achievement as it was through this service that she learnt English, and progressed with a childcare career.
"When I came over from Pakistan in 1985 I couldn't speak any English, and my chances of getting a job were exceptionally slim. However in 1991 I moved to Oldham and began to learn English on this very bus-my advisors at the time are now my colleagues!"
"In 2003 I completed driver training which means now I work full time as a bus driver and crèche care worker'.
Three Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) workers are based on the bus, along with two crèche workers, speaking a range of languages including Urdu, Punjabi and Bangla.
The bus is open 5 days per week, to find out where the bus will be contact H2O on 0161 621 9200.
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