A new bus service will connect the communities of Cam, Dursley and Slimbridge.

Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership and WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre are launching the Slimbridge Shuttle, a minibus service connecting Cam, Dursley and Slimbridge with Cam & Dursley railway station and WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre on Saturdays and Sundays over summer 2023.

The service is the first of its kind in Gloucestershire, and starts on Saturday, May 20. It has been commissioned by Gloucester Community Rail Partnership and will be run by Community Connexions, with support from Cross Country trains and GWR.

As well as taking passengers from the station to Cam, Dursley and Slimbridge, it will give local residents access to mainline trains to and from Bristol, Cheltenham and Gloucester using public transport, and link up communities along its route.

The Slimbridge Shuttle has also been designed with visitors to the area in mind, and will stop at Shepherd's Patch on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, near the Tudor Arms pub, Black Shed café and Tudor Caravan Park.

The 16-seater bus service will run hourly, from around 8am to 6pm, on Saturdays and Sundays during summer 2023.

The route starts from the south end of Dursley town and stops at Dursley bus station, Cam village, Cam & Dursley railway station, Slimbridge village, Shepherd's Patch and Slimbridge Wetland Centre.

It will call in at Cam & Dursley station on the way to and from Slimbridge, taking rail passengers to Cam and Dursley villages, as well as dropping off Slimbridge visitors at the station.

Lucy Smith, WWT head of sustainability, said: "WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre is really pleased to be part of this service which will enable our existing and new visitors to come to the site without needing to bring a car. We hope it gets good levels of uptake during the trial to make the case to retain and expand the service in the future. I'll be using it to visit the site and go to the station at the weekends!"

Fares are £1 for a single journey or £2 for a return, with contactless payment and cash accepted. Bus pass holders and WWT volunteers travel free, and there are concessions for under 18s.

There is one wheelchair space available, which can be booked in advance by phoning Community Connexions on 0345 680 5029.

Mobile tickets can also be purchased using the MyTrip by Passenger app - search for Community Connexions in the operator list.

Image credit: WWT and Clem Stevens