THOUSANDS of web users have secured a new night bus service for their village through a social networking site.

A late-night route will now run from Nottingham city centre to Burton Joyce, then on to Lowdham, Brackenhurst and Southwell.

Nottingham City Transport introduced the service in response to an online Facebook campaign.

Villager Roxie Hickling created the Facebook group NCT Pathfinder 100 – We Want a Night Bus to get better transport to the city after hours.

The campaign attracted 8,000 supporters.

"I'm happy to see that NCT has taken note of what the public wants and I think the new service will be a success," she said.

"The Facebook campaign has only shown even more the power that social networking sites have these days."

The new N100 launches this weekend and will operate every Friday and Saturday night, leaving the city centre at midnight, 1.15am and 2.30am.

The buses will pick up at King Street (stop K1), Victoria Centre (stop V2) and Boston Street before running non-stop to Nottingham Road, Burton Joyce, then calling at all normal stops to Southwell.

The non-stop section of route is designed to ensure the bus has plenty of seats for the long-distance customers who have campaigned for the new service.

All single journeys on the N100 will cost £5, but if customers purchase a £6 Network Rider ticket from the driver on their bus into Nottingham, they can make a return trip for £3.

NCT marketing manager Anthony Carver-Smith said: "NCT has a very strong presence on Facebook with over 8,000 fans and we have been aware for some time of the campaign group calling for late-night buses on the 100.

"Following positive dialogue with the group's creator and an online survey in the spring, we are delighted to be able to introduce this new bus service and offer late night revellers a much cheaper way to get back home after a night in Nottingham.

"We look forward to welcoming the members who joined the group on board the N100."

Further information about the N100 is available online at www.nctx.co.uk.