Iran's first female bus driver has taken to the road in a small victory for gender equality that has already forced men to take a back seat.
 
Seating on Iranian buses has been segregated since the 1979 Islamic revolution, with women forced to sit at the back so that they do not distract the normally male driver.

But on Masoumeh Bolaghi's bus, the seating order will be reversed for the same reason.

Official news agency IRNA said university graduate Bolaghi had taken to the wheel in the city of Karaj, about 38 miles (60 km) west of Tehran, on Thursday.

IRNA quoted Bolaghi as saying she hoped her example would have "a positive effect on women's morale".

Iran started its first women taxi driver service earlier this year in the holy city of Qom. But the women drivers are only allowed to pick up female passengers.