A new open-top bus service connecting Bridport and two popular Dorset attractions joins First Wessex as it moves into its summer timetable from this weekend.

From Sunday, May 30, the X52 Jurassic Coaster will run between Bridport and Monkey World via West Bay, Abbotsbury, Weymouth, Lulworth Cove and Wool. It will operate every two hours and interwork with the X53 and X54. It joins the 501 Portland Coaster that stared operating earlier this month.

As well as this, the X51 between Axminster and Dorchester will be extended to Weymouth, running direct via the Weymouth Relief Road and passing Weymouth College. Customers from the 6B are able to connect with this service in Bridport.

Over the past few months, work has been ongoing to revamp the appearance of the entire fleet, repainting the buses in new green and yellow Wessex colours, and earlier in the year a new logo was introduced.

Carol Sim, First Wessex operations manager, said: "By increasing frequencies, introducing a new X52 and extending the X51, improving the frequency along the Jurassic Coast, the summer service timetables will offer more travel opportunities, better connections, new destinations and more reliability than ever to Dorset to enjoy the world-renowned scenery and fantastic local attractions.

"This staycation summer is looking like it's going to be a great one for Dorset and we are expecting lots of new tourists exploring the region for the first time.

"During what has been one of the most testing periods for us as a local bus operator, our team has still managed to find spare capacity and energy to develop a new comprehensive look for our business to welcome existing and many new bus users on our buses. We even created a nice video showing how stunningly beautiful Dorset is. And what better way to discover this than by travelling on our coaster leisure services which connect people with our coast, our villages and visitor attractions.

"The whole reason to update the look of our fleet was because we know that we have to keep earning our customers' trust and custom and more so after a long period during which many people shunned all but essential travel.

"So, we encourage people to get their hands on the First Wessex and Jurassic Coaster summer bus guides and start planning lovely days out."

The bus guides will be available from the driver, Tourist Information Centres, holiday camps and attractions. For copies in downloadable format, as well as more information about the First Wessex summer services and timetables, visit firstbus.co.uk

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