LATE-NIGHT travellers witnessed the end of an era as they boarded the last ever bus from Bolton Bus Station.

The clock had struck midnight before the historic moment at the Moor Lane hub, which has served the town since the 1930s.

The stands were mostly empty and quiet save for a few groups waiting at K Stand for the 12.10am 524 to Bury - the last bus to leave Moor Lane before services moved to the £48million Bolton Interchange in Great Moor Street.

And it was 33-year-old Lulama Cobo, from Birmingham, who drove the single-decker away and gave a hearty ‘bon voyage’ out the window as he pulled out into Black Horse Street and disappeared into the night.

Before leaving, he said: “I feel privileged because I have not been here long and for me to be a part of Bolton is great.

“It is exciting for me because it is Bolton’s history. It is a nice feeling.”

Peter Vevers, from Radcliffe, was one of those waiting in line for the route home.

He said: “It feels just like any other day. I have been getting the 524 nearly every single day for about 20 years.

“But tonight just feels the same.”

GALLERY: Moor Lane bus station though the ages

Earlier in the evening, several passengers and members of staff reminisced about the old station but were positive about the future at the Interchange.

Liam Staunton, aged 74, visits Bolton roughly every other weekend from his home in Salford.

He regularly got the bus to and from Moor Lane for the last 10 years.

He said: “I suppose it is a good thing and a lot of places are building new stations.

“It will be good to have the bus station next to the train station.”

Bernadette, from Johnson Fold, who did not want to give her last name, has been using Moor Lane for 20 years and has travelled all over Bolton to and from the station visiting friends and family.

The 44-year-old said: “I was thinking recently about how I used to take my kids to and from school when they were little.

“My partner and I do not drive and Moor Lane is a good meeting place because they have had cafes here, I could do my shopping and the market is right there.

“I am going to miss it. We will have to see what the new one is going to be like. I think it will be difficult at first to get used to.”

Nigel Hulse, who has worked as an assistant at Moor Lane Bus Station for 11 years, was sad to be leaving but was excited about the new interchange.

He said: “As you can see, this station is looking very tired and I have been over to the new station two or three times and it looks very impressive.

“I think it is going to be a lot better for the public with the links to the railway station.

“It is just what people need and all the facilities there are very impressive.

“It is going to be a big challenge as it is a big change but I am looking forward to it.”

Bolton Bus Station has been serving the town since about 1930.

It was the subject of a £1.5million revamp in 1985, which came after several years of political debate and lobbying for cash in which one plan was to rebuild the station in Dawes Street.

Moor Lane was running frequent buses to areas of Bolton including Breightmet, Deane, Harwood, Farnworth, Great Lever and Horwich.

Further links included Bury, Chorley, Leigh, Manchester Piccadilly and Wigan as well as the Trafford Centre.