FLEXI-buses that bend in the middle and hold more passengers will arrive in Worcester next week.

Park-and-ride passenger numbers have increased two-and-a-half times since the Worcester Express scheme was relaunched in September and the flexi-buses, which could be introduced next year, will be able to transport more people at a time.

On Friday, November 11, the space-age tram-bus - named StreetCar - will spend the morning testing the W1, W2 and W3 routes and will be available for people to view.

The practice run will give passengers an insight into what bus travel will be like in Worcester in the future.

"We're intending to drop a few jaws - and I don't doubt that we will," said Worcestershire County Council's head of passenger transport Pete Browne.

"In the blaze of publicity surrounding the launch of Worcester Express on September 5, the StreetCar featured in all our material and still forms the major visual element of our logo.

"If the trials prove effective, we could be seeing the buses on the city's streets, even as soon as 2006."

Transport bosses are also hoping to sort out a week-long trial in January - and aside from proving tests around existing and projected future new 'W' routes, it is hoped that shoppers and workers in the city will also be able to ride on the £300,000 StreetCar.

Describing the buses, Mr Browne said the StreetCars are not a makeover of a 20th Century design, but are a 21st century concept.

"It is a radically new concept to complement the new Worcester Express scheme and the drive to double the number of regular bus passengers over the next year is definitely on," he said.