NATIONAL Park chiefs are celebrating a record year for green transport in the New Forest after 50,000 visitors switched from cars to buses.

The Beach Bus and the open-top New Forest Tour enjoyed their best-ever summer, thanks to a combination of new stops, improved ferry links and exceptionally good weather.

The New Forest Travel Concierge at Brocken-hurst station also had a bumper season, helping more than 4,000 people to enjoy car-free experiences. The services are run by the National Park Authority (NPA) in partnership with More bus and Bluestar as part of a Department for Transport-funded campaign to encourage more people to explore the Forest without using their cars.

The New Forest Tour attracted 41,877 passengers on its three routes during the 11-week season, beating last year’s record of 40,653.

The Beach Bus, which links Lepe, Lymington, Hythe and Beaulieu was used by 7,993 – a 35 per cent increase on last summer.

The travel concierge sold 1,444 New Forest Tour tickets as well as handing out 1,200 cycle route maps and hundreds of leaflets.

The New Forest Tour also generated an estimated £680,000 for the local economy by stopping at attractions such as New Forest Wildlife Park near Ashurst and Ringwood Brewery.

NPA chairman Oliver Crosthwaite-Eyre added: “The New Forest Tour, Beach Bus and travel concierge have all played an important role in reducing congestion and carbon emissions. By encouraging visitors and residents to travel without a car, we can help protect its fragile beauty for future generations.”