Picture Ref: 78727-40A FREE bus service taking Penhill residents to the Oasis leisure centre is proving popular.

The scheme part of the Active Swindon Campaign has been organised by Swindon Primary Care Trust and Swindon Council to encourage people to go swimming.

And if the idea proves a success it could be the start of things to come.

Gladys Barr, the Active Swindon project co-ordinator for the PCT, said: "The whole point of the scheme is to create a direct bus service from Penhill to the Oasis.

"At the moment people have to take a bus into town, then get another out to the centre. If you are a mum with young children and a buggy, it is a hassle."

If this pilot scheme is a success then it could be rolled out across the town.

"As long as we can cover the cost of transport then, hopefully, we will be able to offer the service the more people," said Ms Barr.

The service got off to a slow start with only five people taking advantage in its first week, but since then numbers have soared.

Last week 44 people used the weekly service. "Numbers are now starting to pick up," said Ms Barr. "I am just really pleased with how the project is going and the feedback we are getting."

The service runs every Wednesday until August 31.

The pickup point is John Moulton Hall, Penhill Drive at 6pm and the bus leaves the Oasis at 8pm. The bus is supervised, but children under eight must be accompanied .