Independent began life in 1968, using the former Shell petrol station site on New Road Side,Horsforth as its base,this soon  became too cramped and the premises at Low Fold just off New Road Side was purchased, this provided
ample parking spaces and workshop facilities.

The first vehicles to be operated were a 1955 AEC Reliance With Burlington "Seagul" Body which came from Samual Ledgard  via West Yorkshire Road Car and another AEC Reliance this time with Duple "Donington" body dating from 1960 and came from Yelloway, Rochdale.

The main business activity was and still is private hire, excursion and contracts, such as providing a free bus service to the larger supermarket chains. On this sound basis the fleet growth was considerable and various types of vehicles were to be used by Independent  (please refer to fleetlist) from double deckers, single deckers and coaches. For a small  operator an unprecedented step was made, the refurbishment and rebuilding of some ex Ribble and ex Wallace Arnold  Leyland Leopard chassis, all works were completed in Independents own workshop when complete the chassis were fitted with new Plaxton bodies.

Edwards Coachways has always been closely associated with Independent sharing common facilities and fleet numbering, the double deckers in the shape of two ex Nottingham Daimlar Fleetlines were allover blue, coaches
were fawn.

Independents early fleet livery was mainly green with black relief, this combination looked extremely smart, in later years less black was to be used and White added, when the company was taken over by Thornes Motor Services in 1988 all vehicles were to be painted in the two tone blue livery, both fleets share the same fleet numbering system and  internal transfers between the fleets is
commonplace.

Like most fleets there has been steady vehicle replacement and today Independent operate the latest coaches and has replaced its Bristol RE's with Plaxton bodied Scania's from British Airways, sadly no double deck vehicles are operated.