Drivers set for London to Beijing by double-decker bus

London bus drivers are being asked to go the extra mile for the Olympics by signing up for a three-month journey from Trafalgar Square to Beijing.

In a scheme to celebrate cultural links between this year's Olympic Games host city and London, hosts in 2012, an iconic red double-decker bus will set off on a three-month journey.

Leaving in June, the bus is expected to arrive in Beijing before the Olympic flag is handed over to London Mayor Ken Livingstone at the closing ceremony.

Livingstone, whose office are helping organise the trip with the London 2012 committee and Transport for London, said it offered a few London bus drivers, more used to contending with traffic jams, the chance of a lifetime.

"London's successful bid for the Olympic Games was in large part down to the diverse and international character of our city," he said in a statement on Wednesday.

"What better way to celebrate the growing cultural and economic links between the UK and China than by giving a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to a lucky group of London bus drivers to represent our city and our world class transport."

Eight drivers from London's various bus operators are needed to make the trip which will cross Europe, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan before reaching China.