Buses across Preston and South Ribble are to be fitted with swipe card readers in a bid to get more people to use public transport and to cut journey times.

The scheme, which is similar to London's Oyster card system, will see the machines installed on Preston Bus, Stagecoach and Fishwick's buses.

Passengers will be able to buy swipe cards which can be topped up with credits and then swiped on ticket machines to pay for the journey.

The move is part of the European Union funded CIVITAS initiative, which deems to cut journey times improve, bring to an end problems with change and move towards a cashless system similar to travel in London.

A Lancashire County Council spokesman said: "We will be carrying out a month-long trial of smart-card technology on Fishwick's and Stagecoach buses in the Preston area.

"The initiative is part of the Civitas initiative which is bringing a wide range of innovative transport schemes to the city.

"Our trials will involve staff from the council and the bus companies boarding buses and swiping their cards to ensure the technology works and to identify any potential problems.

"If the trials are a success we would be looking at the best ways to roll the scheme out.

"Ultimately we are looking towards a system which would allow people to charge up' their travel cards with cash and purchase things like season tickets or weekly passes electronically."

County Hall bosses said the scheme will be introduced in Preston initially but rolled out across South Ribble if successful.