BUS operator First and City of York Council have launched a free WI-FI service for tens of thousands of passengers.

Every York Park&Ride bus, along with 15 local buses, now provide a free WI-FI service following an award of £320,000 of Government funding to the council.

The scheme is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport as part of York's status as one of 22 SuperConnected Cities.

Wi-Fi has been installed on a total of 47 vehicles - nearly half the First York fleet. The equipment will be owned by the council but First will manage the service, and after two years it can purchase the equipment from the council at a market rate.

Cllr David Levene, Cabinet Member for Transport, said the authority was working with all York bus operators to aspire to help fund free Wi-Fi on all York’s services.

"Our aim is to encourage even more people to travel by bus and increase passenger numbers by 18 per cent by 2015."

First business manager Will Pearson said passengers could now surf the internet, catch up with friends on social media, check emails or shop online – attracting even more people out of their cars onto public transport.