The service will take passengers from St Margaret's Bus Station directly to the airport every day.

Health secretary and MP for Leicester West, Patricia Hewitt, the Lord Mayor and council leader Roger Blackmore will officially open the service on Friday.

The Skylink has been funded by the Department for Transport and the East Midlands Development Agency.

Good news

The bus has been welcomed by Leicestershire's residents who previously had to travel to Loughborough in order to get to the airport on public transport.

Colleen Hempson, NEMA's ground transport manager, said the service would make life much easier for people.

"It has taken a lot of hard work but we've finally got the funding in place and are delighted to be launching the service.

"It will take a while for it to become commercial but we have enough funding in place to make sure the buses are supported until they become fully commercial."