A FREE town centre bus service was launched in Huddersfield today.

The Free Town Bus - run by Metro - made its first journey round town at 7.30am.

And despite the early start several passengers used the service, which covers a 1.5-mile route and takes in 13 of Huddersfield's key sites.

It starts at St George's Square and ferries passengers to John William Street, Market Place, Market Street, the bus station, High Street, the Queensgate Market, the university campus, the Kingsgate centre, Cross Church Street, Huddersfield Parish Church, Lord Street and the outdoor market.

The bus runs every 10 minutes, from 7.30am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, and from 8.30am to 5.30pm on Saturdays.

The single-decker has a low floor and space for pushchairs and wheelchairs. It is also fitted with CCTV cameras.

Neale Wallace, Metro's bus development manager, said research had shown that 7am to 8am was the peak time for passengers boarding buses in Huddersfield.

He added: "We believe there is a need for the service in Huddersfield. It is a small centre, but we have altered the service to suit local requirements.

"We worked very closely with Kirklees Council when designing the route."

The bus service will run for a nine-month trial.

It follows the introduction of a Free City Bus service in Leeds in January.

The Leeds service carried its millionth passenger last week and carries 40,000 passengers every week.

Metro believes it has encouraged an extra 1,000 journeys into Leeds every week - and hopes the new service will do the same for Huddersfield.

Mr Wallace said: "We want to encourage people to come in to Huddersfield, especially people with mobility problems.

"If we make it easier for them to get round they can leave their cars at home and use public transport."

The last time such a service ran in Huddersfield was during the 1980s, when a shuttle bus ran from the bus station to the open market.

Driver Dave Fawcett was one of the first drivers on that shuttle bus service - and was also the driver for the first Free Town Bus service today.

There was an official civic launch for the bus service at the George Hotel at 9.30am today, attended by Kirklees Mayor Clr Donald Firth.

* For details of the Free Town Bus route visit www.wymetro.com