A NEW bus service that will run every 15 minutes through Southampton city centre has been launched.

The City Clipper service will operate a circular route around the city six days a week from Monday with prices starting at £1 for a single ticket or £2 for an unlimited day ticket.

Daily Echo readers will be able to travel free for the whole of the first week.

Tomorrow's paper will contain a voucher for free travel on City Clipper until Friday, April 27.

Stops will include Central Station, Southampton Solent University, Southampton City College, Above Bar, Ocean Village and WestQuay shopping centre.

Nick Farthing, head of the project and managing director of Ocean Link Southampton, said: "City Clipper will be more than just a bus service. The staff will be ambassadors for the city. They will help tourists and visitors to enjoy Southampton with its vibrant leisure and retail facilities and, of course, its heritage.

"For those commuting to work, going shopping or attending college or university, City Clipper provides an easy and cost-effective way of travelling around between city centre locations."

The service will start at 7am from Town Quay and run throughout the day until 7.30pm. Customers can try before they buy on the free buses running on Monday and Tuesday.

Ramps for buggies and wheelchairs are fitted on the brand new bright yellow buses and they will have on-board plasma information screens and air-conditioning.

Timetable leaflets will be available on the buses.

Don't miss tomorrow's Daily Echo for your free City Clipper travel voucher.