TRANSPORT strategists were in jubilant mood today after having recorded hundreds of people using Worcester's northern park-and-ride.

The scheme is a county council one, but County Hall has sub-contracted the site management to Worcester City Council.

"We haven't got exact figures for how many people used the park-and-ride yesterday, but we've got a good idea," said the city council's assistant engineer Paul Kyte.

"We carried about 500 people from 200 cars. A lot of the passengers were family groups or couples.

"That's good, as we don't want the park-and-ride just to be for commuters and mid-morning shoppers.

"We're very positive about the opening day's operation, considering it was the day after a Bank Holiday."

Mr Kyte had been to the site in Perdiswell at 8.30am today and reported the site to be busier than yesterday, when some of the purple and orange buses were taking only three or four passengers into the city centre.

"There haven't been any teething problems so far, although we're not using the barriers or ticket machines this week," he added.

Travel between the Perdiswell site and CrownGate bus station is free this week, with the 450-space site remaining open until 7pm.

From Monday, single motorists will pay £1 to park-and-ride between Monday and Friday, and £2 for a car with up to five people. A £2 flat fee will be charged on Saturdays.

"We're delighted with the way things went on day one," said Mark Hudson, Worcestershire County Council's passenger transport manager.

"This is part of an overall package of measures to ease congestion and encourage people to use public transport.

"We want to see at least two more Worcester park-and-rides within five years, jointly funded by the Government and Worcestershire County Council.

"This is part of the Government's 10-year transport plan, for which we will be directing the work in Worcestershire."