THE official bus company behind Glasgow 2014 has secured a contract to transport VIPs at the Ryder Cup in Gleneagles.

Aberdeen-based First Bus will provide around 260 coaches for VIPs, sponsors, media and Ryder Cup officials when the transatlantic golfing tournament comes to Scotland next week.

The firm also provided the shuttle buses and park and ride services to and from Glasgow 2014 venues earlier this summer, when Games organisers were criticised for failing to timetable enough coaches to meet demand.

First will begin its operations on Monday and expects to have transported around 10,000 passengers by the time the event comes to a close on Sunday September 28.

Managing director of First Bus, Giles Fearnley, said: "We are proud of our Scottish heritage and the important role we play connecting people and communities up and down Scotland.

"We've got a great team working on our Ryder Cup contract and have been planning for the event at Gleneagles for almost a year. The Ryder Cup is one of the world's leading and most popular sporting occasions."

Among the big names descending on Perthshire for the competition are curent Open champion Rory McIlroy as well as Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson.

Antonia Beggs, operations director for Ryder Cup Europe, said: "First has a track record of providing transport solutions at major events and we're especially delighted to have on board a company whose routes are firmly placed in Scotland."

Perth-based transport giant, Stagecoach, was awarded the contract to provide park and ride services for Ryder Cup spectators earlier this year.