A pioneering rural bus service has been awarded a huge Government grant.

West Sussex County Council is to receive £440,000 to develop its demand responsive service (Doris).

The money will come from the Rural Bus Challenge Fund, set up by the Government to help finance schemes for people in areas with poor public transport.

Transport minister Sally Keeble decided to award the money to Doris as part of a £20.5 million package of grants given to 39 local authorities.

The West Sussex service is being launched in the Midhurst area. It will use buses fitted with a computer telling the driver where passengers want to be picked up.

To book a journey residents phone a travel centre and their details are transmitted to a dashboard computer in the driver's cab.

It will cut out waiting at stops and many people are picked up outside their own homes.

Councillor Tex Pemberton said the money would allow County Hall to develop and improve the service.

He said: "This will help bring buses closer to the people who need them and provide an attractive alternative to the car in this rural area."

It is the third time West Sussex has been awarded money from the transport challenge.

Doris was first set up thanks to a £248,000 grant. The council will use another £323,000 awarded in 2000 to launch a further service between Chichester and Petworth in the spring.