THE Christmas night bus service has again been a success - and there are moves to run it all year round.

Warrington Borough Transport carried 1,510 people during eight nights over the festive period.

This compares to 1,268 last year and 707 in 2004, the year the service was originally launched.

Ways of funding the service on a permanent basis, probably with grants from partner groups or the Government, are now being explored.

Paul Draycott, the police licensing officer, said: "The big advantage was that it defused the flashpoint of people queuing."

Buses mainly operated from the town centre until 3.30am, and the service was also extended to Birchwood and Stockton Heath for the first time.