SWINDON'S Copse park and ride service will again operate extended hours over the Christmas period.

To encourage shoppers to leave their cars behind and enjoy late night shopping, the service will run until 9pm on Thursdays from this week.

This year, there will also be a Sunday service from December 1. Buses will run every 15 minutes between 10am and 5pm and there will be a special fare of £1 return per adult passenger.

Barry Lingard, chief executive of the Swindon Initiative, said: "I'm very pleased to hear the service has been extended to cover Thursday late night shopping and Sunday shopping.

"The special reduced fare on Sundays is a big incentive for people to try this excellent service for the first time."

The Copse park and ride site is in north Swindon in Cricklade Road, near the A419 Turnpike roundabout.

The normal service runs every 10 minutes from 7am until 6.40pm from Monday to Saturday.

The fare is £1.70 per person and there are reduced fares for regular travellers. Accompanied children under 16 travel free.