The Eastern Counties Omnibus Company came about by the amalgamation of four companies—the Peterborough Electric Traction Company, Ortona Motor Company Limited, the eastern operating area of United Automobile Services and the Eastern Counties Road Car Company of Ipswich. Registered on July 14, 1931, Eastern Counties was part of the Tilling Group until the Transport Act of 1968, which announced the formation of the National Bus Company. This was to take effect from January 1, 1969. In this book, Peter Horrex and Tim Moore take a look at the years when Eastern Counties were part of the National Bus Company through a wonderful selection of photographs depicting the various types of vehicles used. Eastern Counties were strong supporters of the Bristol chassis and ECW bodywork, given the strong links between the company and Eastern Coach Works of Lowestoft. In 1984, in preparation for deregulation, Eastern Counties was split in to two separate companies, with Cambus being formed to take over operations in the Cambridge and Peterborough areas while, at the same time, the coaching operations were transferred to Ambassador Travel.

Peter Horrex took a keen interest in the buses of Eastern Counties after his first ride on a Bristol Lodekka at the age of 13. More than 40 years later, the era of the National Bus Company and Bristol-built vehicles with ECW bodywork are still his favourite.