Eastleigh residents may soon have an improved bus service if council chiefs back plans to spend £200,000 on a service overhaul.

It is part of a new scheme to try and encourage more people to use public transport by providing a higher quality, more reliable and accessible bus service.

It is expected that the package of measures will result in a further eight to ten per cent growth in the number of bus passengers in Eastleigh to add to the recent ten per cent increase over the past year - due to improvements already made by bus firm Solent Blue Line.

As well as better route branding and easier access to buses for local people, lighting, waiting facilities and route information at bus stops will also be improved if the plans are given the green light by the executive member for the environment, Councillor Keith Estlin today.

The aim laid out in proposals is to enhance the look and environment of the area by having less people driving their own cars and using the better quality, spring cleaned public transport instead. Services, 2, 3, 4, 16, 9 and 9A are thought to be the routes in the area that would attract more passengers and these will be enhanced if the joint scheme, between the county council, Eastleigh Borough Council, Solent Blue Line and First Group, is approved.

Eastleigh mayor Glynn Davis-Dear said: "We have seen too many of our bus services cut back and this is trying to reverse the trend. We are only one of two district councils in the county that subsidise the service in order to be more proactive in getting people out of their cars and using public transport. It's got to be the way into the future."

A spokesman for the council said: "The aim is to encourage greater use of public transport offering the travelling public more choice and reducing traffic congestion."