New night bus for late drinkers

Three buses will operate on four routes out of the town

A weekend bus service for clubbers and pub goers was introduced on Friday, to coincide with the first weekend of late night drinking.

Wrexham Council and North Wales Police will operate the bus trial to help improve community safety in the town.

Up to 10,000 people regularly drink in Wrexham and, with pubs and clubs opening longer, that figure could rise.

It is hoped the three buses, covering four routes, will help cope with pressures placed on local taxi ranks.

The main aim of the scheme is to get drinkers home safely and out of the town as quickly as possible, North Wales Police said.

Village routes Coedpoeth Llay Rossett Rhosymedre

Late-night drinking was introduced on Thursday and a number of clubs are expected to be open until four in the morning, 'Peppers' is the only Wrexham nightclub licensed to open 24 hours.

The new buses will operate hourly from midnight to 0400 GMT on Fridays and Saturdays between 25 November and 23 December, and on Saturdays only from 7 January 2006 until 11 February 2006, subject to levels of demand.

Customers will be charged a fixed rate of two pounds to use the one-way service.

The bus will be funded by a number of different groups including the Welsh Assembly Government.

North Wales Police and Wrexham Council are jointly running the project through their Community Safety Partnership.

The buses will each have CCTV cameras on board.

Inspector Chris Beasley from North Wales Police said the bus route is "seen as essential in getting people home quickly and safely".

He added: "The new licensing hours mean people can now drink for longer but the hope is with pubs and clubs having applied for different licensing extensions that this will result in a more orderly departure of visitors from the town centre."

Inspector Beasley said people getting on the buses will be vetted.

"There will be a zero tolerance approach to any disorder and anybody displaying violent or troublesome behaviour will not be allowed on the bus," he said.

"There are full CCTV systems on all the buses and footage can be used as evidence."

Leaflets with details of the bus routes and times have been distributed to the town's pubs and clubs.