THOUSANDS of passengers are about to benefit from a new colour-coding bus scheme that has been launched in Southampton.

Bus firm First Southampton hopes the scheme will make travelling easier to understand and use.

The project covers the city's metro network, with buses carrying different colours on the sides.

Bus stops along the six metro routes have also been colour-coded to help passengers.

First Southampton bosses say they came up with the scheme after listening to residents' comments and suggestions.

Area director Archie Parsons said: "We continue to listen to the needs of our customers and this is just one of a series of initiatives we are working on to make bus travel more simple.

"In addition, we remain committed to easing city centre traffic congestion and pollution, and we are working closely with the city council to achieve this."

City councillor Richard Williams, chairman of the Bus Users Group in Southampton, welcomed the new scheme.

He said: "It's along the lines of branding, like you get with the Tube. The idea is to make it easier for people to know which bus they are getting on.

"Hopefully it will be a success and I wish them well, as the more people we get on buses the better." First Southampton's massive network changes last year led to fury from bus users who were angry at services being axed and not running on time.

Tina Leng, chairman of the Southampton Federation of Residents' Associations, said: "I think this scheme could cause more confusion for the public. They should be concentrating more on getting more efficient bus services, as that is the lifeblood of any town or city."

See today's Daily Echo for an illustration of the new colour-coded bus routes.