TAKE a ride on a modern coach and you will wallow in the luxury of air conditioning, in travel movies, hostess service and on-board toilets.

A far cry from this picture sent in by Lancashire Evening Telegraph reader Allan Wearden, of East Lancs Road, Blackburn.

Mr Wearden informs us the picture was taken in 1927 and shows his father Jim Wearden, right, and his uncle Fred Wearden in the early days of Weardens' Coaches.

Mr Wearden says: "The rear coach is a Fiat and the firm's first purpose-built coach.

"The front vehicle is a Lanchester and a proper charabanc being a coal wagon during the week!

"After the photo was taken they took two parties to a Rovers game. There must have been no traffic problems those days as it was already ten to two according to the clock."

Mr Wearden says the photo must have been taken for promotional purposes because it was done by a professional.

He adds: "My mother also told me stories from the 30s and about touting for passengers on Blackburn Boulevard when she would sit in the seats with my three older brothers to make the bus look more full.

"The policy of all the coaches was when they were full they would leave and many the time she would be leaving the bus with crying children as in the end there was no room for non-paying passengers!"

Mr Wearden goes on:"Another little gem from my parents' courting days was that when they were out in the 'coal wagon' its wheels had the same gauge as the tram lines.

"Quite often the solid tyres would get stuck in the line of the track and my dad would have to carry on to the tram depot to get out."

Mr Wearden says the coach firm was started by his grandfather who used horse and carts. He believes the stables were close to the Plane Tree pub at Seventrees.