Bus builder Alexander Dennis says it already has orders for nearly 200 of its recently launched Enviro 300 single deck bus.  

The new model fills a gap between the Enviro200 midibus and Enviro400, which the firm says is Britain's best-selling double-decker.  

"The Enviro300 comes as a fully integrated 14-tonner, with seven interior layout options and passenger capacities ranging from 48 to 80," says the firm's boss, Colin Robertson.  

Those orders alone are worth over £20m and part of a record order intake, worth £160m.   Robertson is confident of a £300m turnover in 2008, up 40%, year on year. He also says restructuring plans will lead to a near 50% hike in manufacturing capacity in the next few months, creating 200 new UK jobs.