Stagecoach is running extra evening buses between Lancaster, Kendal, and Grasmere this winter.

The winter timetable, which started on November 4, would normally see limited evening services on the 555 route.

But this year, Stagecoach has extended the 7.40pm Lancaster-Kendal bus to Grasmere, leaving Kendal at 9pm.

The bus returns from Grasmere to Kendal at 9.58pm.

The 8.40pm from Lancaster to Kendal, which last year extended to Grasmere only on Fridays and Saturdays, now runs Mondays to Saturdays, and returns from Grasmere to Kendal at 10.58pm.

All these journeys operate via Bowness between Windermere and Ambleside.

A later last bus now runs from Kendal to Milnthorpe and Lancaster at 8:15pm, with a return journey from Lancaster at 9:30pm.

Tom Waterhouse, managing director of Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire, said: "These extra buses will be a boon to hospitality workers on late shifts and to anyone on a night out or who needs to return home late.

"With the Christmas party season almost upon us, taking the bus is a great move because nobody has to miss out by being the designated driver.

"And with adult fares currently capped at £2, there’s never been a better time to leave the car at home and travel by bus."

The winter schedule introduces new timetables across all Stagecoach Lake District routes.

The 505 and 516 services maintain similar timings to last year, offering buses every two hours between Windermere and Coniston, as well as Windermere and Dungeon Ghyll.

Service 6 will offer increased journeys between Windermere, Ulverston, and Barrow, with up to eight buses daily from Monday to Saturday, and six on Sundays.

All Sunday buses and select weekday services begin in Kendal.

The 755 service connecting Heysham, Morecambe, Kendal, Windermere, and Bowness, also now offers more journeys than last winter.