A NEW Saturday bus service in Tavistock is to be called Peter?s Saturday Shoppa in honour of the late Cllr Peter Donkin, who was the main driving force behind the service?s launch.

The first bus will be sent on its way from Bedford Square by Maria Donkin, Cllr Donkin?s wife, at 9.30am on December 14.

Tavistock?s mayor, Cllr Marjorie Corner, said: ?Peter put a great deal of time and work into this project and we feel it is very fitting that the service is name after him.

?We are pleased to be able to offer this service, which will provide a quick and convenient means for shoppers to travel around the town.?

The new bus service will be co-ordinated by the Tavistock & District Local Transport Partnership, and its chairman Stephen Fryer said Peter had worked tirelessly for a long time to see the hoppa bus come to fruition.

?His untimely death was a great shock to everyone and we are so pleased that Maria has agreed to come and officially launch the new service named in his honour,? he said.

The bus came from an idea first suggested by Cllr Nick Waterhouse, and the £10,000 funding by the Countryside Agency?s Parish Transport Fund for the pilot project of one year is designed to judge the viability of such a service for Tavistock.

If successful, it is hoped a commercial operator will take over running the route when the initial year ends.

The service, which will be operated by Carmel Coaches of Northlew, will cover a route from Bishopsmead, via Safeway?s car park, through West Street to Bedford Square and on to Somerfield?s Store via Brook Street.

The return route will be via Parkwood Road, Dolvin Road, Bedford Square, Tavistock Bus Station and back out to Bishopsmead.

Each journey should take around 35 minutes, and there are a number of ?hail and ride? stopping points along each route.

The fare for any journey will be 40p, with a reduction of 20p for those with a concessionary pass.