A space-age street car, which is to become the face of public transport in York, wowed future users when it went on show in the heart of the city.

As Royal Ascot punters, visitors and residents gathered in St Helen's Square, the "ftr" - a cross between a bus and a tram - was parked there for all to see.

Peter Edwards, commercial director of First York, said he hoped the innovative vehicle would catch the attention of the Duke of York as he left the Mansion House following the Community Pride Awards on Thursday.

"It is an opportunity to raise awareness of the fact we have the ftr for York," he said.

"We got the authority to go down Blake Street and up to St Helen's Square and we had already tried the route with one of our bendy buses.

"This is the very first in the world. This is the prototype, taking all that is good about public transport."

York is one of three cities in the country to be chosen to launch the ftr, which First says will boast real-time journey information for passengers, more space, a climate-controlled interior and more comfortable travel.

"We told His Royal Highness about the Streetcar and the innovation it represented. He seemed very interested in what we are trying to achieve," said Mr Edwards.

Eleven of the buses will arrive in January 2006, to operate Service 4 serving Dringhouses and Acomb.

Updated: 10:24 Saturday, June 18, 2005