With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, a Dorset bus service is getting people ready for love with new decorations on one of its buses.

First Bus has decorated one of its vehicles with heart shaped balloons, cupid stickers and “I love you” teddy bears to welcome passengers on board.

The bus will take various routes across the Wessex area and has already travelled on the Chickerell service, number 8, the Portland service, number 1, and the Littlemoor service, number 2.

The idea for it came about after the success of last year's festive bus service.

READ MORE: Dorset passengers treated to festive bus ride this week

Dorset Echo: First Bus' Valentine's Day bus

First Wessex’s Staff Manager Leanne Rowland-Bright, said: “I was inspired by how well the Christmas bus went down with customers, and I thought we should keep it going with a love bus! So far, we've had great feedback from both our staff and passengers.”

She, along with her colleague Steve Hiley, decorated the bus which has been out in service since February, 2. 

The love bus has been spreading joy across Dorset with many passengers taking to social media to share their delight with the service.

One Facebook user said: “Thank you First Bus again for your lovely bus decorations, it really does cheer people up and in 48 years of life, you have been the only bus company to do this. Blessed be.”

Another user commented: “Made me smile when I got on it on Abbotsbury Rd today" while others described it as "lovely" and "so sweet." 

Like the Christmas bus, the routes will vary depending on availability.

The love bus will be out running until Valentine’s Day, February 14, and decorations will be taken down on the following morning.