STROUD'S recently reinstated late night bus is under threat following a poor initial take up.

And the news has prompted Stroud District Council leader Chas Fellows (Con, Chalford) to make an impassioned plea to use it or lose it.

Since being re-launched on October 21, just 11 passengers have taken advantage of the service, designed for young people in outlying villages who want a night-out in Stroud at the weekend.

The bus - which runs on Friday and Saturday nights and has a security officer accompanying the driver - is on a six-month trial.

It was funded by £3,000 from the Stroud Crime and Disorder Partnership and £7,000 from the county council's share of the second-home owners tax.

It was introduced following a successful pilot scheme last winter to reduce the number of people in the town centre after pubs and clubs shut at the weekend.

Cllr Fellows urged revellers to make use of the facility or see it axed. "It is important that the public make use of the service as we cannot fund it indefinitely," he said.

"I implore people to use it so it can become self-funding."

On the route are Nailsworth, Nympsfield, Brimscombe and Bisley.

Cllr Lesley Williams-Allen, of Nailsworth town council, also called for greater take-up.

"It's a great pity it's not being used as an awful lot of people pay lots of money to get home," she said.

"People have complained for years that there has been no late night transport and it has been a legitimate complaint until now.

"Perhaps we should do more to promote it."

Gareth Blackett, spokesman for Gloucestershire County Council, said: "If nobody uses it we will have to review things. This is a use it or lose it situation."

* for details of the timetable visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/villagelink