THREE new bus services are being launched in the New Forest in a move that will help plug the gap caused by previous cuts.

The National Park Authority (NPA) is using a grant from the Department for Transport to fund seasonal services that aim to increase the amount of car-free travel in the district.

But the Government hand-out is a one-off payment that covers start-up costs.

If the new services continue next year they will have to be funded wholly by ticket sales rather than relying on public money.

Forest Bus is a new improved service based on the existing Bluestar 6 route and will link Southampton and Lymington, via Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst. It will run hourly every day between May 24 and October 31.

Forest Bus Baby is a new weekend service link Hythe and other Forest villages between the ame dates.

The X24 service will run from Southampton to Paultons Park via Romsey.

Starting on May 23 it will initially operate only at weekends, becoming a daily service from July 27 to cope with extra demand during the school holidays.

Meanwhile the award-winning New Forest Tour returns on June 27 and the Beach Bus between Hythe and Lymington, via Lepe Country Park, will resume on July 25.

NPA chairman Oliver Crosthwaite-Eyre said: “The three new services, along with the New Forest Tour and Beach Bus, mean there are now plenty of options for residents and visitors to leave their cars behind.

“It’s very important that these services become self-funding.

“We’ve recently seen how buses which are too reliant on public subsidies can be vulnerable to cuts. Whilst some support is needed to establish these services, the aim is to make them more financially viable through ticket sales rather than rely on ever decreasing pots of public funding.”

Some of the NPA-supported buys services are run in conjunction with Go South Coast.

Andrew Wickham, the company’s managing director, said: “We’re delighted that our partnership with the National Park Authority goes from strength to strength.

“The New Forest Tour and Beach Bus enjoyed record passenger numbers in 2014 and we’re sure that thousands more will hop on the Forest Bus and Forest Bus Baby.

Stephen Lorton, commercial director of Paultons Park, said: “The X24 service to Paultons Park will be a convenient way for families to get to us on weekends and during the school summer holidays.

“We know many of our visitors arrive by car but the X24 will now be a great alternative."