BUS passengers in Worcester can look forward to a better service after company First announced it was splashing out £1.5m on a fleet of new vehicles.

The 13 full-size single-deck easy access buses will be introduced on route 144 - which runs between Worcester and Birmingham - in a bid to improve the service.

The vehicles will come into use from Sunday.

Passengers in Fernhill Heath and Droitwich will also benefit from the improvements on the route.

It is the first time the route has had a whole new fleet of buses in one go.

"The introduction of these new buses demonstrates First's commitment to enhancing the key inter-urban service between Worcester and Birmingham," said managing director of First's Midlands Ian Humphreys.

The news comes as First also revealed a raft of other changes aimed at improving services in and around the city, which will come into effect on the same date.

The changes include a increased frequency of services between the city and Malvern, revised routes between the city and Warndon and a new service from the city centre to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

But Lucy Hodgson, Worcester city councillor for Warndon Parish South, said many residents in Warndon Villages around the Dugdale Drive area were concerned about the 39a service being scrapped.

"They're very upset they've lost their bus service and think they're being stranded but they're not," she said.

"However these new routes are not as convenient for people and I'm not happy with the lack of consultation and the way First has done this.

"This is a lifeline for these people and I just feel they're having to dig deep to find the information."

Route changes

PURPLE LINE - ROUTE 36: Operating from Crowngate via Worcester North Park and Ride and Warndon to Worcestershire Royal Hospital every 30 minutes from Monday to Saturday.

The service part-replaces the axed 39a, with another route, the 39, extending it from the city to Lower Wick.

RED LINE - ROUTE 44

The Malvern to Worcester service will see a more regular service, with buses every 20 minutes also now serving London Road, Worcester Sixth Form College and County Hall, replacing Route 28.

PINK LINE - ROUTE 37

A revised route 37 will now operate every 20 minutes between CrownGate, Tunnel Hill and Warndon Villages as part of what First calls its 'commitment to develop and improve the overground network in the north-east of the city'.

ORANGE LINE -

ROUTE 31

As part of First's re-structuring plans, this route will now terminate at the hospital and no longer continue on to Warndon.