FESTIVE revellers are expected to take full advantage of a North Yorkshire town's new nightclub bus this weekend, as the seasonal celebrations continue.

The bus between Easingwold and the York clubs, launched earlier this month thanks to a Countryside Agency grant, has already had two early morning Sunday runs, but has so far failed to attract the anticipated numbers.

Organisers are hoping rural clubbers will be keen to take advantage of the service as they head for York's nightclubs tonight. "Of all the weekends the service should be well used on this one," said Coun Shirley Shepherd. "A lot of work has been put in to getting it on the road so we're hoping passenger numbers will pick up."

Tickets for the Sunday morning service, which collects revellers from Rougier Street in York at about 2am, and Clifton Moor night club Ikon and Diva at 2.15am, can only be bought on the day of travel from Doreen Hayes, at Tempo, in Easingwold, before 3.30pm. Seats are limited so youngsters are being advised to make plans for their night out in advance.

But it is not only youngsters who will be reaping the benefits of the scheme, as Coun Vivien Lancaster was keen to point out. "Parents will be able to rest at night knowing their children are being safely collected and returned home after going out. It's peace of mind," she said.

The service is being run as a pilot scheme for six months before being given the final go-ahead by county council and police chiefs. It was put forward by Easingwold town councillors to help rural young people enjoy the same activities as their suburban peers.

The introduction of an advance booking scheme follows concerns raised by York residents over noise and disturbance created by waiting passengers.

If successful, the scheme could be given trials in other North Yorkshire rural areas in the New Year.

Updated: 10:05 Saturday, December 28, 2002