A DISUSED bus has been given a new and unusual lease of life in South Somerset.

The red and white double decker bus has been given a brand new coat of green paint and transformed into a cafe near South Petherton.

The vehicle was bought by the owners of The Railway Carriage Cafe, which was recently nominated for the best cafe at the Muddy Stiletto Awards.

The business started about 12 years ago when an 1870s railway carriage was renovated as a cafe, but as the business has grown in recent years there has been a need for extra space.

Mell Oliver, one of the duty managers at the cafe, said: "We have been managing it for four years. It was getting so busy and we have such big tables already that we needed more space.

"We bought the double decker bus about three months ago and started refurbishment. The tables and chairs are quite bespoke and everything is painted in that style.

As well as the unique seating buildings, the Railway Carriage Cafe also has a garden for families to enjoy the sun, and often hosts pizza nights on Thursdays and Fridays.

Here, they open up an outdoor bar and light up the hand built wood fire oven.

Mell, along with the cafe owner Pip Martin and the other staff, are looking forward to a bright future together.

"We are like a big family," Mrs Oliver added.