BUS passengers in York will be able to travel in style on Sunday as the city's new Park&Ride service gets under way.

Operator First is offering free travel for passengers to and from the Monks Cross Park&Ride, the city's fifth site.

The Silver Line service, which will run to and from York city centre via Malton Road, will give commuters a free taste of the facilities at the new £3.5 million site.

Part of City of York Council's commitment to reducing congestion in the city centre, the site has 750 parking spaces, with services running from 7am until 9pm, Monday to Saturday, and 10am until 6pm on Sunday.

In addition, a number 99 shuttle bus will run from the site to Monks Cross Shopping Centre and Monks Cross office complexes from Monday to Saturday.

Energetic travellers can also park their cars at the site and cycle into the city centre free of charge under the Park&Cycle scheme.

The cycles can be stored overnight in secure lockers on site.

Peter Edwards, commercial manager at First, said: "Although the site does not officially open until Monday, we are geared up to operate from Sunday, and will operate a free service on that day between the new Park&Ride site and the city centre.

"This new site will offer those arriving from the north and the east of the city the opportunity to park their cars and catch a bus right the way through the city centre as far as the end of Rougier Street, making it a lot more convenient for those who work in that area.

"We believe that between ourselves and the city council we have a winning formula when it comes to running Park&Ride and confidently predict that this new site will become every bit as popular as the others."

Martin Revill, head of the council's transport planning team, hailed the new site as another weapon in the council's congestion-busting armour.

He said: "We hope that the opening of the fifth site will make it even easier for people, particularly those living to the north-east of York, to travel into the city centre.

"The service should help reduce congestion and improve air quality in the city."

Updated: 07:56 Friday, July 09, 2004