BUS company Arriva will operate reduced timetables over the Christmas and New Year period to cater for fewer passengers wanting the service.

The new timings will apply throughout Basildon, Rayleigh, Rochford and Southend and no buses will operate on December 25 and 26 and New Year’s Day.

Sunday timings will apply on December 27 and January 2 and the Saturday schedule will be used for almost all services between Christmas and the New Year.

Also, most services will stop early on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and the usual timetable will resume on Tuesday January 3.

Full details of all the seasonal timetables can be found on www.arrivabus.co.uk, in a leaflet available from the Travel Shop at Southend Travel Centre and from other outlets or by calling 0844 800 4411.