Victory bus back on the road

It has taken Ray Hine eight years to restore the bus

The open-topped bus that carried Stoke City's 1972 League Cup winning team through the streets of the city has been restored to its former glory.

Ray Hine has spent the best part of a decade renovating the historical vehicle.

The 1950s coach had been languishing in garage at Tean in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

The vehicle is a lasting reminder of the only major trophy that Stoke City have won in their 135-year history.

Huge crowds

Mr Hine told the BBC's Midlands Today programme that the coach's restoration has been a long process.

"New panelling, rewired, painted, sign-written - all the interior's been left as it was."

Terry Conroy, who scored in the 1972 victory, said the tour through the city is something he will never forget.

Stoke City have not won a major trophy before or since

"It seemed everybody from the Potteries had turned out - we didn't realise that the population was so big.

"It took us by surprise. Obviously Stoke had never won a trophy before so it wasn't as if we were expecting huge crowds."

Mr Hine said that his love for the vehicle is not understood by everyone.

"It's hard to explain to the younger people, because all you get now is a square box, don't you?

"This is a classy, stream-lined coach - it's still a good-looking coach to me."

The bus will be on show at various events in and around the Potteries throughout the summer.