Bus to the future

A model of a futuristic driverless bus which promises to cut pollution and congestion has been unveiled.

Designers said the state-of-the-art bus will navigate the streets using magnets embedded in the road as markers. Passengers will use their mobile phone to specify the pick-up point and destination of their journey.

A small model of the bus or "pod", developed by Capoco Design and the Royal College of Art, goes on show at London's Science Museum.A prototype is due out next year and is expected to be tested in a closed environment, possibly Heathrow Airport.

If tests are successful, the bus could become operational within 10 years.

Designers hope to showcase the system at the 2012 Olympics in London.