SHOPPERS are set to benefit from a new park and ride route in Gloucester.

To coincide with the opening of the new Gloucester Quays Designer Outlet, Gloucestershire County Council has changed the popular bus service.

The route will include a new stop at the Quays and a later running timetable.

The move will allow visitors, and the 1,200 outlet employees who don't have on-site parking, to park their cars and catch the bus into the city.

The new route will come into force when the centre opens on May 21.

Starting from Waterwells, the new route heads down the bypass, turning into St Ann Way before stopping at the Quays, then onto Southgate Street for St Oswald's.

This will also mark the beginning of a trial into an extended timetable until 8pm, taking into account the requirements of the nearby college, which has courses running until 8pm, and Quays staff who will be working until late.

Philip Williams, parking and transport manager for Gloucestershire County Council, said: "The new service should be quicker and more convenient if you shop, work or study in the centre of Gloucester.

"The designer outlet is likely to attract a lot of shoppers and the new stop at the Quays will be well located.

"We're running the service later to help college students and Quays employees in particular, but it is important that people realise that we will not continue at the end of the trial if people don't use the service."

Chris Oldershaw, chief executive at the Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company, said the changes on the route would boost visitors to the city.

He said: "Improving the public transport around Gloucester is an integral and essential part of the ongoing regeneration. The park and ride service is one of the most effective ways to improve access for all whilst reducing the number of cars within the city centre."

If the service is well used it will be kept on a permanent basis.