PROSPECTIVE passengers in Rose Hill will be able to try out the new PickMeUp minibus.

Oxford Bus Company will hold an information morning at Rose Hill Community Centre on Saturday, during which residents can learn about the bus and test the vehicle.

They can also get support to download and learn how to use the mobile phone app, which is how passengers 'order' the on-demand bus to collect them.

The event runs from 10am-11.30am.

Transport to and from the event will be free, with pick-up at 9.30am at the junction of Cottesmore Road and Danvers Road, and 9.40am at the junction of Rivermead Road and Mortimer Road.

The PickMeUp service came under fire last week after passengers complained that pre-booked journeys were cancelled last-minute, leaving them stranded.

Oxford Bus Company has since suspended the pre-booking facility on the app, but the normal on-demand service has continued.

Despite the hiccups, others have spoken positively about the bus.

PickMeUp launched in June and bus company bosses said it should help to reduce congestion and improve services to East Oxford.

The scheme allows passengers to order a bus to a ‘virtual stop’ on demand, with journeys - matched to others travelling on a similar route - costing £2.50 per ride.

A surcharge of £2.50 is added to this, if the journey could easily be made via an existing Oxford Bus Company bus route.