Senior management at local coach company Simonds, which is based in Diss were last night celebrating landing a much sought after contract for the Olympic Games, which kicks off in just over a weeks time. It will mean their drivers being based in the capital for the duration of the event. It is a major shot in the arm for a firm which has been trading now for more than four decades and employs nearly 100 staff.

Simonds of Botesdale are thought to be the only coach company in our county to win a contract through the official London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG). They will be providing four buses exclusively for use at the Olympic Park in Stratford as well as eight drivers to ferry various people around the site, including competing athletes and certain media personnel.

Although Simonds have been forced to cover up their name on the buses (due to London 2012 sponsorship rules) they have received the green light to keep the painted autumnal leaves that adorn their vehicles and stand them apart visually from other commercial transport operators.

This award now means that businesses in the eastern region have secured more than £1bn of contractual benefits from the London Olympics.