RURAL bus services around Malvern could receive a massive boost in the New Year when Worcestershire County Council finds out if it has been successful in a bid for £1 million.

A demand-based service linking Knightwick with Worcester, Malvern and surrounding rural areas, shuttle services for Little Malvern and Upton-upon-Severn with the surrounding parishes, "yellow bus" services for schools and an extended Hills Hopper service are all included in the bid to the Department for Transport.

Ripple, Upton-upon-Severn, Welland, Longdon and Hanley Castle parish councils are also looking into the possibility of applying for a Parish Transport Grant of £10,000 each from the Countryside Agency.

Should the county council succeed in locating the rest of the funding, the parishes will put their money towards the provision of a "shuttle" bus serving the parishes on demand.

WCC also wants to see more buses stopping at Great Malvern station, as part of a strategy aimed at easing congestion on the approach to Worcester from Malvern by encouraging people to catch trains into the city.

"There's a heavy demand on the A449 into Worcester city centre," said Maggie Clark, sustainable transport manager for the council. "We want to intercept people closer to home to cut down on the car miles and heavy traffic on the A449."

The council, which expects to hear back from the Department for Transport in January, is also preparing to bid for money from the Strategic Rail Authority for projects such as installation of CCTV at station car parks and another pedestrian crossing over Worcester Road to Malvern Link station. A cycle path over Malvern Link Common is also being planned.

Ms Clark said that although the Department for Transport bid could still come to nothing, she would push for the measures outlined in it to be included in the next Local Transport Plan, due in 2006.