Action to ease the Yule rush

As well as extended hours of operation at Worcester North park-and-ride in Perdiswell, special buses will be laid on to cope with extra shoppers on Saturdays.

For the 13th time since the subsidised park-and-ride scheme began, buses will run from Christopher Whitehead High School on Bromwich Road, St John's, and from County Hall, off Spetchley Road.

The extra buses will also be needed to cope with the thousands of visitors expected to visit the Faithful City during the Christmas Fayre at the end of this month.

The scheme is jointly funded by Worcester city and Worcestershire county councils.

The city council's transportation officer Andy Perry said the number of people taking advantage of the scheme each year more than justified the cost to the authorities.

"Late-night shopping and, of course the Christmas Fayre, all have a major bearing on parking in the city, so the idea of park-and-ride ultimately benefits everyone," said Mr Perry.

Support

"With seven buses involved, in addition to extensions to the usual park-and-ride fleet. it means that the service is pretty much constant and passengers shouldn't be faced with too much waiting."

Mr Perry thanked Christopher Whitehead School for its continuing support and Metal Castings for providing overflow space to the Perdiswell sites.

The Christmas services are:

Worcester North - Monday to Saturday as normal from 7am to 7pm. Hours extended to 10pm on Thursdays and Friday and Saturday November 28 and 29.

County Hall - Dudley's Coaches stops at Cathedral roundabout and runs from 8.30am to 6.30pm every Saturday from now until Christmas.

On Saturday, November 29 the service will run from 8.30am to 8pm. Return fare 50p, accompanied children under 16 free.

Christopher Whitehead High School - Aston's Coaches stops at Angel Mall every Saturday from now until Christmas.

On Saturday, November 29 the service will run from 8.30am to 8pm.

Return fare 50p, accompanied children under 16 free.