Drivers and conductors given free shares when the Metroline bus company was privatised have seen their fortunes soar after it bought a rival.

The company's value increased by more than a fifth in just a week after the announcement it had bought MTL London North for £41.9 million, doubling its share of the London bus market to 14 per cent.

When Metroline was floated in July last year staff got up to £30,000-worth of shares, the value of which has doubled.

Managing director Declan O'Farrell, who invested £40,000, is now looking at a £10 million fortune.

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