A FREE bus service in Hartlepool over the school summer holidays to help locals and visitors alike get to and from the town’s attractions will be operation from next week.

The Hartlepool Explorer Bus was first trialled by Hartlepool Borough Council over Easter and now councillors have decided to extend the pilot scheme over the summer.

The service will run four times every day between Tuesday, July 21 and Sunday, August 30.

Following a route from Seaton Carew to the Headland and back, the single-decker will stop at five key locations: Seaton Carew Bus Station, for the beach, amusements and shops; the Transport Interchange in Church Street, for Hartlepool Art Gallery; Victoria Terrace, for Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience; Navigation Point (at its junction with Harbour Walk), for Hartlepool Marina and the shops, restaurants and bars of Navigation Point; and Friar Terrace, for the Heugh Gun Battery.

Kevin Cranney, Chair of the Council’s Regeneration Services Committee, said: “This free service links up many of Hartlepool’s key attractions and is just the ticket for enjoying some great days out around the town this summer and that’s good for the town’s tourist venues and businesses too.

“I hope people will really make the most of it. We will assess the effectiveness of the service at the end of the summer to help us decide whether it would be worthwhile running it again during future holiday periods.”

For more information about the Hartlepool Explorer Bus service, call 01429 523855.