ALL aboard the party bus!

Party-goers keen to enjoy New Year’s Eve celebrations in Weymouth are being given a helping hand when it’s time to go home.

Weymouth BID has been working closely with First Wessex to provide an extended bus service in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

While buses won’t be running through the night, services are being extended so revellers can mark midnight in the resort.

New Year’s Eve is Weymouth’s biggest night of the year and it is renowned for being a big party town with thousands donning fancy dress.

In 2014 the local celebrations were ranked in the top 10 Europe has to offer by a European travel website. Weymouth’s location and the fancy dress tradition were cited as the main reasons to enjoy the town in a list of the best New Year’s Eve destinations by goeuro.co.uk

Weymouth BID says as New Year’s Eve falls on a Sunday this year, First will be running extended bus services on the 1 to Wyke Regis and Portland, 2 to Littlemoor, 8 to Chickerell and 10 to Dorchester and Poundbury with the last departures from Weymouth at 1.15am on New Year’s Day.

Chairman of Weymouth BID Steve Newstead said: “We’re delighted to be working with First Group to offer this special service.

“It’s great that First passengers will have buses running late into the night as the town celebrates the new year.

“By offering this alternative travel option, we hope that it’ll encourage revellers to leave their cars at home if they’re having a drink, as well as giving them a safer option opposed to walking.”

Mr Newstead added: “The night time economy is one of the key objectives in the Weymouth BID business plan and as New Year’s Eve is always a great party time in Weymouth we have been working hard to create safe ways of getting home after the celebrations. We are hoping that even more people will choose to come to Weymouth to party the night way and enjoy time in the many restaurants, bars and clubs.”

For more information see weareweymouth.co.uk

n The real ice rink will be open on New Year’s Eve and the last day for skating will be January 1.