AN EASTLEIGH college has signed up to a £1 million agreement aimed at encouraging its students out of the car and onto public transport.

An exclusive, five-year contract between Barton Peveril College and bus operator Solent Blue Line has been agreed in a bid to reduce the number of cars on the roads.

Under the scheme, the college's 700 students will be provided with 14 buses a day during term time, and a new deal for out-of-school travel.

The six-figure agreement will mean the locally-run bus company will handle all the college's transport requirements until 2005.

College principal Godfrey Glyn said that, as well as being motivated by green concerns, the new scheme would also help students have easy access to the college in Cedar Road, from the widest area.

Mr Glyn said: "This is a very important step in improving public transport provision for post-16 students in our catchment area, and it is part of our strategy to encourage students to travel by bus rather than car."

As part of the deal, students will also be offered a £49.50 Max ticket for evening, weekend and leisure travel.

Equivalent to an all-zones freedom ticket, the Max - which will be useable right up until the end of the school year - would normally set students back by £400.

Solent Blue Line's managing director Ken Pond said: "There's a lot of interest and we are very optimistic that this is a win-win situation for us and the college.

"The deal gives the college a one-stop shop for all its transport undertakings, and it is the intention to increase the number of students using the bus. "We welcome this initiative from the college."