BUS passsenger Karen Barton is preparing to hit the High Street after scooping first prize in a bus company's monthly draw.

Mrs Barton, aged 60, from Farnworth, won £100 in High Street shopping vouchers as part of North West bus company First's 'First to the Shops' initiative.

Launched in July, the initiative aims to promote the region's shopping centres. The company has produced a new guide to detail shopping facilities across the region's towns, including Bolton and their relevant bus routes.

Concessionary ticket holders had the chance to enter into a free prize draw. They had to send in ticket stubs with a competition voucher from the guide to be in with a chance of winning £100 in vouchers each month from July.

The prize draw is due to end this month, but Mrs Barton was October's winner. She hopped on a bus at First's Bolton depot in Crook Street to receive her prize.

Mike Hilton, First's divisional marketing manager, said: "We hope that the 'First to the Shops' campaign will encourage our customers to use buses to explore the area's shopping choices."

There is plenty to see and buy. We hope our customers will find the guide a useful source of information when they are planning an excursion."