RESIDENTS in Southampton are to be asked for their views on whether the city needs a late night bus service.

Southampton City Council has teamed up with Hampshire Police and First Southampton to prepare questionnaires for a special consultation exercise.

The questionnaires, which ask on what nights people travel to the city centre, where they go home to, how they travel and which times they would prefer to travel, will attempt to discover whether there is a need for such a service in Southampton.

The questionnaires will be available in around 20 city centre pubs, clubs and other late night venues this week.

Ian Rothwell, city centre manager, said the initiative is a good idea.

He said: "City centre management is currently undertaking research into developing and managing Southamp-ton's night-time economy and late night public transport is emerging as a vital component of the strategy.

"Currently there are large numbers of people milling around the city centre waiting for transport or walking home through residential areas.

"If there is enough demand, then improving late-night transport will reduce disturbance and the opportunity for tempers to flare."

The consultation exercise coincides with the City Council's Bus Challenge bid for funding for a network of night bus services, linking hourly services from the city centre to the city boundaries.