A BUS driver who spent several years working in and around Salisbury has written a book about his experiences.

Fred Root, who was born in Salisbury and lived in Durrington until getting married, became a professional driver in his early twenties.

He said: “I was mad about buses when I was younger and couldn’t wait to drive one.

“I would often tell friends of my experiences and nearly everyone said I should write a book, so with a little persuasion from my wife and daughters, I did.”

Root, who now lives in Fovant, spent three years working for Avon Coaches in Netheravon before moving to London, where he drove double-decker buses for four years, and where his wife joined him as conductor. He said: “In the 1950s there were no motorways, no heaters or demisters.

“There were also no flashing indicators, no power steering and while there was a speed restriction of 30mph, there were no regulations on how many hours you could drive and no compulsory rest time.

“For a young man who was enthusiastic and mad about buses, it was a time of trial and error, endurance, frustration and achievement on completing every journey safely.”

Driver will be on sale in Cross Keys Bookshop, Salisbury, from December 20.