A REVISED bus service will operate in Worcester during the school summer holidays while Powick bridge is closed for repairs.

All bus services that normally cross the bridge, which is due to close for essential structural work from Saturday, July 21, to Sunday, September 2, will be diverted along Hams Way and Bransford Road.

Worcestershire County Council is also providing extra vehicles on some city centre routes so that the 10-minute frequency is maintained despite the expected traffic hold-ups as a result of the bridge closure.

More details of the services affected will be announced by the county council later week. About 20,000 cars normally cross Powick bridge and the six-week roadworks are expected to cause traffic chaos.

Transport planning and review officer Chris Holloway said: "We are putting the passengers first and doing whatever is necessary to make sure they have a decent service.

"If the passenger transport network is running well it may be the easiest and most stress-free form of transport."

Mr Holloway advised people to go along to a series of exhibition evenings which started yesterday.

There, they can get all the information they need about the closure and alternative routes.

Tonight, the exhibition will be at Bromyard Road Methodist Church, St John's, Worcester. On Wednesday and Thursday, June 6 and 7, it will be at Powick Primary School and on Monday and Tuesday, June 11 and 12, the exhibition will be held at the Chase Technology College, Malvern.

The exhibition will be open from 5.30pm to 8pm.

Information will also be available on the Worcester-shire County Council and traveline websites and details of new or changed services will also be placed on bus stops and at bus stations nearer to the time of the closure.

Councillor Derek Prodger, cabinet member for the environment, said the council had also held talks with Central Trains and asked the company to arrange extra carriages on services between Malvern and Worcester, as well as waiving the car parking charges at Great Malvern station in a bid to encourage travellers to use the trains.

A spokesman for Central Trains said: "We will look at all our operations but we cannot magic up carriages. Our extra rolling stock goes to serve the holiday routes.

"The school holidays should be quieter on the trains anyway."

He said the company would definitely not be offering free car parking at Great Malvern station.