Part of the Tilling Group up until the formation of the National Bus Company in 1969, Hants & Dorset had a fleet of Bristol Lodekkas with their Lodekka fleet being fitted with the distinctive Cave-Browne-Cave heating system, which featured two vertical air intakes on the front of the vehicles on both sides of the blind box as demonstrated here by Bristol FLF 1540 at Apps Court Farm. From 1969 Hants & Dorset took over the neighbouring red buses of Wilts & Dorset, leading to Hants & Dorset's bus fleet changing from their original Tilling green to National Bus Company poppy red.