The University of Central Lancashire has launched a week long scheme encouraging students to be greener.

But the people responsible for running the project are parading around campus in a fuel-guzzling red double decker bus which is used to promote their eco message.

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The bus is driven between its depot in Blackpool and the university every other day – adding up to more than 188 miles – costing the university £1500 to hire for the week.

One of the organisers of the event Clair Challen said that that they came up with the idea of using the bus to promote the message of the campaign because it gives them the opportunity to reach a much wider group of students.

She said that it was “refreshing” to hold the campaign outdoors instead of being in the office.

Ruth Taylor, Energy and Carbon officer at UCLan said: “In previous years we’ve been really disappointed because it takes a lot of effort to put the green week on.

“This year we have been inundated with requests for information. People are stepping on the bus. It’s something new and it’s something different. We’re trying to be very visual with what we are doing this year.”

It seems to have gone down a treat with the students, with 19-year-old Mirriam Parker clearly impressed: “I think the green bus is a really good idea because it promotes the fact that we should be living more greenly.”

“It’s not the kind of thing you can really ignore a giant red bus going around I think it will definitely educate more people about it can make some sort of impact,” said Sean Mullan, aged 21.

The bus is just one of a number of events put on in the greener scheme, a refurbished bike was held today, while a ‘Tour de Preston’ bike-ride was hosted yesterday.

Earlier in the week, the scheme kicked off with a Green Quiz on Saturday at the Source Bar.

Then on Monday they had an Urban Cycle Training session which was said to help improve cycling confidence on roads around campus.

Later on in the afternoon students were treated to smoothies but they had to it make themselves using a pedal powered machine.