A new Hospital Hopper shuttle bus has started running between hospitals in Worcester and Redditch.

The free service gives patients, visitors and staff the chance to travel between the Worcestershire Royal Hospital, in Worcester, and the Alexandra, in Redditch.

The bus runs from directly between each hospital hourly, on the half hour, from 7.30am to 10.30am and 1.30pm to 4.30pm every weekday.

David Trigger, who took the first bus from the Worcestershire Royal to the Alexandra Hospital said: "It’s encouraging to see the Trust listening and responding to what local people have asked for.

"I’m really pleased this service has become a reality as it can be really important for many people in the county.

"I want to encourage everyone to use the service as the more people who use it; the more likely this will be permanent."

Also on the first bus from the Alexandra Hospital to Worcestershire Royal was Brian Nichollas, who used the hopper bus with his wife Rita to visit a friend at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

The pilot service is being funded by the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust with a contribution from Worcestershire's CCG.

It will run until Friday, April 21, with no service on Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Support and demand for the service will be continually evaluated and a decision made as to how it will continue in the future at the end of the pilot period.

The idea was proposed at a meeting called by Karen Lumley, MP for Redditch, to discuss the future of the Alexandra hospital last year.

She said she was delighted and added: "This is a pilot scheme and the Acute Trust will monitor demand over the next few weeks, and so I really do urge residents to use the service, especially as it has taken considerable effort to get off the ground.

"If the demand is there I am hopeful that the facility will be maintained, and may even be increased."