Nottingham-Derby bus driver Carole Hind has been crowned the first ever female winner of the UK Bus Driver of the Year. Carole, who drives the red arrow service linking the two cities, won the National Driver of the Year today at the UK Bus Awards and is the first woman to win the prestigious title in the Awards’ 20-year history.

Carole was announced as the winner at a ceremony at London’s South Bank, and trentbarton, the company Carole drives the red arrow for, won the Silver Award in the Top Shire Operator category.

Carole, who has already won trentbarton’s own Driver of the Year title at its 2015 Really Good Service Awards, said: “I had convinced myself there was no way I was going to win. So I was completely taken by surprise and was lost for words.”

Carole has been driving red arrows since July 2010 after first taking up bus driving when she joined trentbarton five months earlier. Before that she was a security van driver. Carole added: “I’m absolutely thrilled to bits, both for me and for trentbarton. It was a really good day. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it all and have a lovely trophy.”

Jeff Counsell, Managing Director of trentbarton, said: “We already knew Carole’s passengers think she is great and they can now board her coach knowing they are being driven by the best in Britain.

“Carole’s warm and welcoming smile for every passenger is a sign of how much she cares about her job and about making sure every journey is a good one. Congratulations to her. Trentbarton is very proud to have her in our team.”