Free bus services to link county to tourist spots

One of the services will run to and from Twycross Zoo

Free travel for bus passengers is available on 12 festive services launched by Leicestershire County Council.

The temporary routes will serve Christmas markets and tourist destinations in the county such as Conkers and Twycross Zoo in December.

They will be delivered by operators on behalf of Leicestershire Buses and funded via the Bus Service Improvement Plan.

The council says the services will increase access to destinations around the county as it looks to encourage people to travel by bus.

One of the new temporary services will serve Gates Garden Centre, at Cold Overton near Oakham.

This service will run on 6, 13 and 20 December, which are all Fridays.

Leicestershire Buses has teamed up with Ausden Clark and Gates to deliver the service from Melton Mowbray and Oakham.

Passengers can get a free hot drink in the garden centre restaurants when they show a valid voucher, the county council added.

Ozzy O'Shea, cabinet member for transport at the county council, said: "The aim of all our bus improvement plans is to keep people connected and to support local communities – and the festive season is a perfect time to do this.

"It’s another great example of our Enhanced Partnership with operators working collectively under our new Leicestershire Buses brand and shows how grant funding from central government can benefit residents and boost bus travel."

The seasonal service to Conkers will operate on 7, 14 and 21 December from Whitwick, stopping at places such as Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Ibstock and Coalville on the way.

The Twycross Zoo service on 8, 15 and 22 December runs from Hinckley via villages such as Desford and Market Bosworth.

A full list of the services with times and stops can be found here.