The company was unhappy with the old design, which they said was not fashionable enough for the new service.

But after Prestonians told the Evening Post of their shock that the lamb logo was going, Preston Bus have said they were just giving it a makeover.

A new logo - being drawn up by design companies for a "low three-figure sum," - will feature on the inside and outside of the buses.

So far Preston Bus has been sent designs from various agencies – including one with a yellow lamb – but all have been rejected.

Peter Bell, managing director of Preston Bus said: "There is still some work to be done. The main thing is to try and find something which works with the style of the buses.We do not want anything which looks odd."

Mr Bell said some buses already feature a lamb logo on the offside as well as the new orbital logo on the front, but they will be replaced when a new design is found.

News of the lamb's return was welcomed by Deputy Mayor of Preston Coun Bhikhu Patel, who said: "The crest on the buses is a way of making people feel proud of their city."