NATIONAL park chiefs have launched an extension to an award-winning sightseeing service used by tens of thousands of people every year.

The New Forest Tour, a fleet of open-topped buses that provide passengers with grandstand views of the coast and countryside, has been enlarged to include the south-western corner of the district.

The new route means passengers can travel around the whole of the New Forest National Park without using their cars.

Julian Johnson, chairman of the National Park Authority (NPA), said: “It’s a classic opportunity to leave your vehicle behind and enjoy the Forest without having all the hassle of driving.”

The New Forest Tour is run by Go South Coast in partnership with the NPA. It was launched six years ago and has seen the number of passenger journeys grow from 9,000 in 2007 to nearly 34,000 last year, saving almost 150,000 private car miles.

The new route includes stops at Keyhaven, Milford on Sea and New Milton plus attractions such as New Forest Cider at Burley.

New Milton county councillor Mel Kendal said: “The tour is a real asset. It takes cars off the road during the busy summer months and also helps support businesses and communities.”

The launch of the new route was attended by Milford Primary School pupils, who sang songs about the Forest.