THE number of services running on the 66 bus route between Oxford and Swindon is to almost double from next week.

Bus operator Stagecoach said there would be new services in the evenings and on Sundays to improve public transport for Faringdon residents to both towns.

From Tuesday, the service will run half-hourly Monday to Saturday, while on Sundays the service will be increased to run hourly and there will be a late-night service leaving Oxford at 11.25pm Monday to Saturday.

The improvements are being funded by Oxfordshire County Council, using planning gain money paid by the builders behind the Park Road housing development in Faringdon.

Allan Field, bus services manager at the county council, said: “I am delighted to be working closely with Stagecoach to make Service 66 more attractive for residents living along the route.”

For more information, go to stagecoachbus.com