Winchester'S park-and-ride service is to run later in the evening to encourage rail commuters to use it.

From this Monday its buses will run for an extra two hours in the evening.

The last bus will leave Winchester Railway Station at 8.45pm. The decision to extend the service comes after criticism from commuters that they do not use park-and-ride because it finishes before they return to Winchester.

The service will run every 15 minutes between 6.45pm and 8.45pm for an experimental 6-month period. The first bus leaves the St Catherine's site at Bar End at 7.15am, with commuters able to leave their cars all day for £1.50, or £1.20 with a discounted Smartcard. It is by far the cheapest all-day parking in the city and helps reduce congestion and pollution in the city centre. The ticket also pays for the bus journey.

Richard Knasel, Winchester City Council Cabinet portfolio holder for economy and transport said: "These extended hours will benefit rail commuters but will also benefit people who perhaps want to have a meal in the city centre after leaving work. We will look at the number of people who have used the later service at the end of six months and then consider whether it should become permanent."