A council is running a free festive bus service to boost business in the run up to Christmas.

In a bid to support businesses and shops, as well as to promote sustainable travel, for the first time Worthing Borough Council will run the free service into the town centre.

On Thursday, December 1, Compass Travel’s Number 7 service will be free between High Salvington - through Durrington and Tarring, the town centre and Broadwater - to Lyons Farm and back again, from 5.30pm to just after 10.30pm.

The service will also be free on the evenings of Friday 2, Saturday 3, Friday 9, Saturday 10, Friday 16 and Saturday 17, December.

Worthing Town Centre Initiative (TCI) - the business-led organisation which works to promote and support the heart of the town - is working in partnership with Worthing Borough Council to fund the free service.

The Argus: The bus routeThe bus route (Image: Worthing Borough Council)

Thursday’s free service coincides with the launch of late night shopping and the TCI’s opening Christmas event, which will run from 3pm till 7pm in Montague Street and includes a market, music, a visit from Father Christmas and an appearance from Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Titan the Robot.

There will be other activities throughout the month, including the Worthing Christmas Tree Trail, decorated by businesses and community groups, where the public can choose their favourite.

The Toy Soldier Trail will make a return, giving residents the chance to win Worthing gift cards if they can collect the names of all 12 figures.

There will also be a window display competition, festive wreath-making and chocolate-making workshops, a wine fair with more than 100 wines to sample from local independent wine traders, carol singers, farmers’ market stalls and charity pop-ups.