TRANSPORT chiefs in Eastleigh have agreed to more than double the number of buses using a busy route known as the Hamble Connection.

It follows the decision to plough £50,000 into the scheme.

The borough's local area committee will join forces with Hampshire County Council to help the First bus company buy four new vehicles.

The new buses will operate solely on service 16 which links Hamble, Butlock's Heath and Netley with Southampton.

Councillors also heard that the service frequency would be increased from two buses each way per hour to a 20-minute service.

The buses would start earlier in the morning and would be operated by a team of drivers dedicated to that service only.

Eastleigh's contribution added to £100,000 from the county council means First will have to find only 60 per cent of the cost of the new vehicles.

Committee chairman Councillor David Airey - who is also the borough's executive councillor for transport - told members: "This is perhaps a new way of helping finance public transport improvements in this area."

He said similar partnerships existed in Slough, Devon and Dorset.

The new buses would be fully accessible to the disabled with space on board for wheelchairs - and if the county came forward with its share of the money, the new vehicles could be in operation by Easter.

Pointing to the fact that a team of drivers would be dedicated to the service, Cllr Airey said: "Passengers will get to know them well.

"I think it will have a huge impact.

"We are looking at making significant increases in the numbers of passengers travelling."

Backing the move to help buy the new buses, Councillor Bill Pepper said: "I'm constantly receiving complaints from residents about the buses that are used on the route.

"They are a bit bumpy and shaky. I'm sure this move will encourage people to use them."

The cash from the Eastleigh committee will come from developers' contributions received for transport improvements.