On-demand bus service set to expand in county

Worcestershire County Council said the expansion would be launched in August

An on-demand bus service is going to be expanded in a county, according to a council.

Worcestershire County Council said the extension of services to large parts of Wychavon would start in August.

The move follows rollouts in Bromsgrove and Malvern where the initiative was designed to connect passengers to their destinations without fixed routes or timetables.

A council spokesperson said there were further plans to introduce the scheme to areas including Stourport, Hartlebury, Ombersley and surrounding central rural communities.

All journeys will be free for the first month before fares switch to £2.50 per person per journey, with £1.25 for additional passengers, they added.

The on-demand service sees passengers book journeys through the Worcestershire on-demand app where they can choose their pick-up and drop-off points.

A council spokesperson said journeys in Wychavon would be limited to a maximum of 15 km (nine miles) to "ensure smooth and efficient operations".

Smaller vehicles will also be used for rural roads.

The service will run from Monday to Saturday, from 07:00 to 19:00.